How do avalanches affect the economy

They can also be triggered by skiers, snowmobiles, hikers, vibrations from machinery or construction. Avalanches Thousands of avalanches occur in Canada each year. Avalanche facts Avalanche safety What to do: During an avalanche Avalanche facts An avalanche occurs when a layer of snow collapses and slides downhill.

Avalanches are caused by four factors: a steep slope, snow cover, a weak layer in the snow cover and a trigger. Roads and railway tracks may be rerouted to reduce risks.

Safe avalanches may be triggered in dangerous snow packs. The layers vary in thickness and texture. The bonds between the layers of a snowpack may be weak. Melted snow that refreezes may cause a slick coating of ice to form on the surface of a layer.

A new snowfall may not stick to this slippery layer, and it may slide off. During spring thaw, melted snow can seep through a snowpack, making the surface of a lower layer slippery.

Added weight or vibration can easily send the top layers of a snowpack hurtling downhill. Sluffs and Slabs There are two main types of snow avalanches—sluffs and slabs. Sluff avalanche s occur when the weak layer of a snowpack is on the top. A sluff is a small slide of dry, powdery snow that moves as a formless mass. Sluffs are much less dangerous than slab avalanches. A slab avalanche occurs when the weak layer lies lower down in a snowpack.

This layer is covered with other layers of compress ed snow. When the avalanche is triggered, the weak layer breaks off, pulling all the layers on top of it down the slope.

These layers tumble and fall in a giant block, or slab. Once a slab avalanche starts, the slab shatters into many separate blocks. These snow blocks break up into ever-smaller pieces.

Some of the pieces rise into the air as a moving cloud of icy particles. The cloud races downhill at very high speeds. The thickness and speed of slab avalanches make them a threat to skiers, snowboarders, mountaineers, and hikers. In the mountains of the western United States, there are about , avalanches each year. Avalanches kill more than people worldwide each year.

Most are snowmobilers, skiers, and snowboarders. Avalanche Control Storminess, temperature , wind, the steepness of the slope, terrain , vegetation , and general snowpack conditions are all factors that influence whether an avalanche happens and what type occurs. Snow avalanches are most likely to occur after a fresh snowfall adds a new layer to a snowpack. If new snow piles up during a storm, the snowpack may become overloaded, setting off a slide.

Earthquake s can set off avalanches, but much smaller vibrations can trigger them as well. A single skier can cause enough vibrations to set off a slide. Currently, scientists are not able to predict with certainty when and where avalanches will happen. However, they can estimate hazard levels by checking on the snowpack, temperature, and wind conditions. Houses, shacks, cabins, and even the ski resorts can be ruined during this disaster.

Avalanches can completely disconnect mountain settlements higher up from the rest of the world. The railroads and roads might have to close down due to the damage caused by the avalanche to the transport infrastructure. Roads might be covered in thick snow from the avalanche that makes the movement of vehicles impossible for days before the snow is cleared off.

Cars and trains traveling in the area during the avalanche can also be wiped off or buried under the snow. Avalanches can wreak havoc in the lives of the people living in and around the disaster area. Power lines can be broken so that people go without electricity for several days.

Telephone and cable lines can also be disrupted leaving people with no way to communicate with others or seek help. Avalanches also can cause roads and railroad lines to close. The large amount of snow can cover entire mountain passes and travel routes.

Car and trains that may be traveling on these routes can be completely wiped out or buried. Another way that these disasters affect humans is by damaging utilities and communication. The power from these snow waves can completely destroy pipelines carrying gas or oil, thus causing leaks and spillage. Broken power lines can cause a disruption in electricity and cause thousands of people to go without power.

Communication fields, such as telephone and cable lines, could go silent causing a panic and a delay in response time and rescue. Adam Bowser has written professionally for more than five years. He holds a certificate in Genealogical Research.