SnowFlurry 5 2018/19 | Background information on the Euregio Avalanche Report from Tyrol, South Tyrol & Trentino

Last November, the three provincial governors officially launched the Euregio Avalanche Report website. This bundles all avalanche information from the affected regions and displays it on one website. How did the joint avalanche forecast of Tyrol, South Tyrol and Trentino come about?

The starting point for this project was laid some time ago. With the first presidency of Tyrol within the European Region Tyrol - South Tyrol - Trentino, ideas for joint projects were sought. Rudi Mair, head of the Tyrolean avalanche warning service, had already put forward the idea of a joint avalanche situation report to the Tyrolean governor and thus got the ball rolling. After some time, Norbert then wrote a funding application with the help of Matthias Fink, who represents the European region of Tyrol - South Tyrol - Trentino in the province of Tyrol, and successfully got it through. The starting point for the development of the joint avalanche forecast was set. With many ideas, workshops and many intensive technical discussions, a concept emerged that on the one hand followed European standards and guidelines in avalanche warning, but also placed great value on a certain general validity and scalability. This gave us a theoretical framework that we could always fall back on during practical implementation.

Who was involved in the Euregio Avalanche Report project?

The project group is quite large and comprises between 15 and 20 people. The hardcore operative project group consists of the two of us and our colleague Alex Boninsegna in Bolzano. The project is administratively supported by the European Region Tyrol - South Tyrol - Trentino. The avalanche warning services of the three countries and the University of Vienna with the Institute for Geography and Regional Research were also involved. We were also able to work with many interesting partners from science and development as well as innovative companies. The range of partners extended from weather services and snow research institutes to web design and interpreting and translation agencies. This meant that we had a large number of players, but we were also often lucky enough to have specialists in a wide range of areas, which increased the quality of the project.

In future, the main product of the avalanche warning in the Euregio will be more of an evening forecast for the coming day, not just a recording of the current state of the snowpack. Why?

The avalanche forecast or avalanche situation report is a regional assessment and description of the avalanche danger. As such, it is used for tour planning, not to mention the planning of local avalanche commissions in the event of a disaster. And planning is simply half the battle in the winter mountains, because it should actually define the goals. So the earlier I can plan with high quality, the better I can adapt my tour destination to suit the conditions. It's also much more relaxed to plan in the evening over a glass of wine than in the morning between a hasty muesli, cappuccino and packing the backpack.

Norbert, as a computer scientist, you were responsible for the technical implementation. What are the achievements in terms of user-friendliness, intuitive access to information and handling of the new website?

We were able to break new ground in two areas during implementation. For the forecasters, the system offers the opportunity to see their colleagues' assessments while they are still writing the avalanche forecast, to exchange information and, if necessary, to jointly assess regions.

The information on the avalanche situation is then communicated on the website, and only this information. That's why we were able to build a customized homepage for the avalanche warning and tailor everything precisely to it. The European region is divided into regions, depending on the snow and weather situation. And for each of these regions there is a complete avalanche forecast, from the danger level to the snowpack structure. Every ski tourer can now choose the region that interests them and only receive the information relevant to that region.

A lot has changed with the new Euregio Avalanche Report. This means a big change for the warnings, but also for all readers. If you're used to the old site, you'll certainly have to get used to the new one, but it's worth it.

Christoph, your part as a snow researcher was the scientific aspects. How does avalanche.report address the latest findings in snow avalanche science? In what ways should we adapt our usual way of thinking in terms of risk management in the snow as a result?

In principle, I don't see myself as a purist snow researcher. I'm a little too far removed from hardcore basic research in this field for that. However, I still have a good overview of the new findings and try to bring them into the entire Euregio warning team as a multiplier. This doesn't just concern the fracture mechanics of dry or wet snow, but also aspects of forecasting and decision-making from expert knowledge in general.

In terms of risk management, I take a cherry-picking approach and like to help myself to the best and tastiest from a wide selection. My personal approach is: assess the risk for several possible tour destinations in a region based on the avalanche problem and the danger level, then check on site whether I can find the avalanche problem or the warnings from the danger assessment and the snowpack section in the terrain. And then simply use the terrain as cleverly as possible: stay below 30 degrees on the ascent, avoid terrain traps, only ski steep sections one at a time, identify safe stopping points.

Is it conceivable that the Euregio Avalanche Report will be extended to other regions?

In principle, yes, as it was the ambition of both of us in this project to develop something that is based on generally applicable guidelines and that is theoretically scalable in any direction. We are happy to invite other warning services, but we are not imposing ourselves in any way. On the contrary: we'll be happy if we get the first winter with the three countries off to a good start.

To both of you: When you're not in the office racking your brains about improving avalanche warning products, what are your favorite types of snow in detail? By the way, the answers "powder" or "firn" do not apply to LWD employees, we want to know more precisely.

Christoph: There are probably three types of snow or snowpack structures that I favor:

(1) 50-60 cm of freshly fallen, beautiful six-armed new snow crystals with a density of 50-80 kgm^-3 on a base of small round and angular, edge-rounded crystals that increase in hardness very continuously with depth. In addition, two or three friends who gasp for air after a few swings because the mixture of air and ice takes their breath away.

(2) 2-3 cm of melted shapes, but only slightly moist on a massive melted hard cap (15 cm thick) hardness 4. It doesn't matter what's underneath, the main thing is very steep.

(3) 5 cm of milled, small round crystals with a hardness of 3, dense snow underneath. My two boys in front of me, then me trying to follow them.

Norbert: What I find most fascinating is the beautifully formed deep frost. When the cup crystals live up to their name, it's always impressive that something like this can form.

So what would your perfect snow profile look like?

Christoph: In terms of hardness, my profile looks like a perfect staircase or the Stiegl beer logo, with the exception that the last step is twice as high as the others. Grain shapes from bottom to top: small angular, then small angular-edged rounded crystals. Then small round and large fresh snow crystals. Everything fart-dry and cold.

Norbert: I can go along with that, but for me the following situation comes right after that: 30 cm of crystals building up on layers of round-grained crystals that get harder and harder towards the bottom, sunshine, freezing cold and a hiss with every swing.

In the interests of further decimating the number of avalanche victims, we hope that all avalanche warning services in the Alps will be as uniform as possible and that they will continue to be gradually adapted to the needs of the user. That way you won't run out of work any time soon. We hope to hear from you two again on the subject of "more intensive cooperation between other warning services in Europe"!