Infrasound array criteria for automatic detection and front velocity estimation of snow avalanches: towards a real-time early-warning system

Abstract

Abstract. Avalanche risk management is strongly related to the ability to identify and timely report the occurrence of snow avalanches. Infrasound has been applied to avalanche research and monitoring for the last 20 years but it never turned into an operational tool for the ambiguity to identify clear signals related to avalanches. We present here a new method based on the analysis of infrasound signals recorded by a small aperture array in Ischgl (Austria), which overcome now this limit. The method is based on array derived wave parameters, such as back-azimuth and apparent velocity. The method defines threshold criteria for automatic avalanche identification considering avalanches as a moving source of infrasound. We validate efficiency of the automatic infrasound detection with continuous observations with Doppler Radar and we show how dynamics parameters such as the velocity of a snow avalanche in any given path around the array can be efficiently derived. Our results indicate that a proper infrasound array analysis allows a robust, real-time, remote detection of snow avalanches that could thus contribute significantly to avalanche forecast and risk management.