The serious study of avalanches began half a century ago, following
two major lines of investigation: a deterministic approach, inspired
by the theories of fluid mechanics, and a statistical approach, both well
known by all specialists in the field.
This book explores a new conceptual approach, closer to hydrology
than hydraulics, which relies solely and rigorously on field data from
the avalanche path studied. This approach is clarified and compared
with both the deterministic and statistical approaches. The authors' past
and current research implementing this approach is presented: analysis
of the bulk rheology of certain avalanches, the elaboration of new
conceptual models validated by comparison with field data,
and a methodology for determining extreme events by extrapolating
the knowledge garnered from past events. Statistics add an important
dimension to the book, with standard operations such as fitting statistical
distributions on random variables and other newer components such
as the analysis of avalanche triggering probability.
The first nine chapters present the research carried out by the Snow
Avalanche Engineering and Torrential Erosion Control Research Unit.
As the exploration of these topics is far from finished, Chapter 10
examines a number of research projects that could consolidate the basis
of this apparently very promising approach.
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