New Kind of Avalanche: 9 Russian Adventurers Mysteriously Froze to Death

[jedishrfu]

In this Ars article, they describe a recent research article about an old case of nine Russian outdoors folks who died under mysterious circumstances. The research indicates a new kind of avalanche.

https://arstechnica.com/science/202...sly-froze-to-death-a-new-theory-explains-why/

 

[DaveC426913]

Cool. My first reaction, before reading the article was skepticism regarding the claim of a "new" kind of avalanche, but indeed that is what the article details.

 

[jedishrfu]

When I read it, it made sense. It’s something I experienced as a kid where the snow was hard on the surface due to the winds but soft and powdery underneath.

We used to break off chunks a toss them onto the hard surface to see the piece shatter and the parts skitter away.

It never occurred to me that on an incline that a portion of the surface could break free and slide down as a kind of micro avalanche.

 

[Keith_McClary]

the snow was hard on the surface due to the winds but soft and powdery underneath.

I was once on a ski lift early watching some skiers taking a first run on a slope like that.

 

[Borek]

My understanding is that is not entirely a "new kind" - more like they proved known kind of avalanche could take place in the conditions present there and then.

 

[jedishrfu]

Also that for this type of avalanche the slope was less than the 30.0 degree slope.

A minimum of 20.0 degree was needed and in the case of tragic event they described, the slope was 23.0 degrees.

 

[cybernetichero]

Read that with an internal Theremin playing.