Why scientists are starting avalanches on purpose
This avalanche was set off on purpose
Locator: Stryn, Norway
Scientists conducted a full-scale experiment
to understand how powerful avalanches can be
and improve planning safety measures of infrastructure and buildings
(SOUNDBITE)(English) PRINCIPAL ENGINEER, AVALANCHES AND ROCK SLIDES AT NGI, PETER GAUER, SAYING:"We want to gain more in-depth insight in avalanche dynamics and pressure and forces that we can expect from avalanches and so in this way to validate our models and give practitioners values for dimensioning of objects in an avalanche path."
Scientists set off the avalanche using explosives
causing over 10,000 cubic meters of snow to rumble down the mountain
at a speed of up to 112 miles per hour