The temporal and spatial variation of snow pressure on structures

Abstract

Measurements of snow creep pressure on an avalanche-defence structure in western Norway are presented. Two different types of measurement methods are described and evaluated. Pressure data from four winters are correlated with the following measured snowpack properties: density, snow depth, snowpack temperature, and snowpack stiffness. The results show that maximum and average pressures are strongly dependent on the product of density and snow depth as well as snowpack stiffness. The highest pressures were observed in spring prior to melting of the snowpack. Key words: snow pressure, snowpack parameters, slope inclination, structures.