| | Searching Current Courses For Fall 2016 |
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Course: |
SAO 263
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Title: | Snow and Avalanches II |
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Long Title: | Snow and Avalanches II |
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Course Description: | Investigates in-depth the properties of snow, snowpack, and avalanches. Advanced coursework will cover a range of topics including energy balance, all aspects of the avalanche phenomenon, avalanche type/character/problem, and will introduce concepts in avalanche mitigation. |
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Min Credit: | 3 |
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Max Credit: | |
STANDARD COMPETENCIES
1. Summarize basic energy and mass transfer mechanisms as they relate to snow and avalanches
2. Identify avalanche release mechanisms
3. Summarize the evolution of snowpack elements as they relate to avalanche release
4. Identify characteristics of avalanche phenomenon as they relate to impact on human activity
5. Identify various avalanche mitigation concepts and tools
TOPICAL OUTLINE
I. Review concepts covered in Snow and Avalanche I
II. Advanced concepts in weather effects on avalanche development
a. Turbulent exchanges at the snow surface
b. Heat exchange mechanisms
c. Radiation balance
III. Advanced concepts of snowpack structure and avalanche activity
a. Slab characteristics
b. Common weak layers
IV. Advanced concepts in snow metamorphism processes
a. Near-surface faceting
b. Surface hoar
c. Near-crust faceting
d. Sintering
e. Wet snow metamorphism
V. Avalanche release mechanisms
VI. Avalanche flow
VII. Advanced concepts in properties of snow
a. Dust and other variables
VIII. Avalanche Type/Characteristics/Problems
a. Frequency; occurrence and accidents
b. Risk considerations and risk treatment
IX. Introduction to multi-season snow-cover
X. Advanced concepts in avalanche terrain
XI. Intro to avalanche mitigation
a. Explosives; type and characteristics
b. Explosives; effects on the snow
c. Mechanical mitigation
d. Passive mitigation
XII. Run-out characteristics
a. Alpha/beta angles
b. Return period considerations
XIII. Climate change impacts
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