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Influence of snow and meteorological conditions on snow-avalanche deposit volumes and consequences for road-network vulnerability
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  • Hippolyte KERN,
  • V. Jomelli,
  • Nicolas Eckert,
  • Delphine Grancher,
  • Michael Deschatres,
  • Gilles Arnaud-Fassetta
Hippolyte KERN
Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne Laboratoire de Géographie Physique CNRS-UMR 8591  2 Rue Henri Dunant 94320 Thiais

Corresponding Author:hippolyte.kern@lgp.cnrs.fr

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V. Jomelli
Aix-Marseille University CNRS IRD INRAE Collège de France UMR 34 CEREGE 13545 Aix-en-Provence
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Nicolas Eckert
UR ETNA Université Grenoble Alpes INRAE Centre de Grenoble 2 Rue de la Papeterie 38402 Saint-Martin-d’Hères
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Delphine Grancher
Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne Laboratoire de Géographie Physique CNRS-UMR 8591
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Michael Deschatres
UR ETNA Université Grenoble Alpes INRAE Centre de Grenoble 2 Rue de la Papeterie 38402 Saint-Martin-d’Hères
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Gilles Arnaud-Fassetta
Université Paris Cité UMR 8586 PRODIG 8 rue Albert Einstein Case postale 7001 5 rue Thomas Mann 75205 Paris Cedex
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Abstract

Snow avalanches are a major component of the mountain cryosphere that frequently create a menace for the road network. Deposit characteristics determine the extent of damage and disruption to communication networks, but the factors controlling snow-deposit volumes remain largely unknown. This study investigates the influence of meteorological and snowpack conditions on snow-avalanche deposits and road-network vulnerability based on 1986 deposit volumes from 182 paths located in two regions of the French Alps between 2003 and 2017: Guil and Haute-Maurienne valleys. During the period, 195 avalanches impacted the road network in these areas, leading to major disruptions. In Haute-Maurienne, correlations between deposit volumes and meteorological and snowpack conditions are high in winter. However, the relationships differ with path elevation and orientation. Results do not show any significant relationship between volumes and meteorological or snowpack conditions for the spring season. Focusing on deposits that disturbed the road network, winter and spring reveal a distinct influence of meteorological and snow variables compared to the overall data set, with snowfall intensity as the predominant control variable of deposit volumes leading to road cuts. When the same analysis is conducted by considering Guil valley separately or by aggregating Haute-Maurienne with Guil valley area data, results do not show any significant relationship, highlighting the specific regional nature of relations between deposit volumes and meteorological and snowpack conditions.
14 Sep 2022Submitted to Land Degradation & Development
10 Oct 2022Submission Checks Completed
10 Oct 2022Assigned to Editor
05 Nov 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
07 Nov 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
15 Dec 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Major
11 Feb 20231st Revision Received
12 Feb 2023Submission Checks Completed
12 Feb 2023Assigned to Editor
12 Feb 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
13 Feb 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
13 Mar 2023Editorial Decision: Accept