Things to know about avalanche

A natural phenomenon of sudden flow of snow from mountain is called avalanche. It occurs mainly from December to April. However, deaths due to avalanche have been recorded throughout the year.

Below are the facts need to know about avalanche....

• It is a natural phenomenon linked to snow. Avalanche is known as snowslide same land or mudslide.
• It occurs when there is too much snow on a mountain, some of the snow may fall.

• Most avalanches are triggered by people skiing, snowboarding, hiking, or snowmobiling on top of the snow.
• Avalanche can be composed of loosely packed light fluffy snow or thick "slab" which is an area of tightly packed together snow that separates itself from the surroundings.
• It claims lives of around 150 people throughout the world every year.
• There are two common types of avalanches, a Surface Avalanche and Full-Depth Avalanche.
• When a slab of snow begins to move down the mountain it can reach speeds of 80 miles per hour (130 kilometers).
• Most avalanches occur within 24 hours after a storm drops 12 or more inches (30 centimeters) of fresh snow.

• Heavy snow can not support itself with all the weight. It tends to flow down when an external pressure comes into effect this helps to loosen the snow and an avalanche happens.
• Major temperature changes, rapid wind speed and man-made influences are the main causers of

Avalanche death

Most of the victims die due to asphyxiation, wounds and hypothermia.

OneIndia News (With inputs from sources)