Observations of seismic signals induced by snow avalanches

Nobuyuki IMANISHI; Kouichi NISHIMURA; Takeo MORIYA; Tomomi YAMADA

doi:10.5331/seppyo.66.3

Nobuyuki IMANISHI, Kouichi NISHIMURA, Takeo MORIYA, Tomomi YAMADA

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Keywords: seismogram, dominant frequency, avalanche release point, avalanche mass

JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

2004 Volume 66 Issue 1 Pages 3-10

DOI https://doi.org/10.5331/seppyo.66.3

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Published: January 15, 2004 Received: September 16, 2003 Available on J-STAGE: August 07, 2009 Accepted: October 22, 2003 Advance online publication: - Revised: -
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Date of correction: August 07, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: ABSTRACT Details: Wrong : Since a seismic wave associated with a snow avalanche may contain considerable information about the avalanche itself, seismic observation using 4 seismographs was carried out at Toikanbetsu (N45°, E142°), Northern Hokkaido, Japan during 80 days from January to April 2001. This paper first discusses the characteristics of the sesmic signals. Second techniques to estimate the avalanche release point and its scale are developed. As a result of this observation, totally 50 seismic waves from full-depth avalanches were obtained. They correspond to 86% of all observed avalanches, which indicates that monitoring of avalanches with seismographs is useful. The shapes of waves from avalanches released at the same point are similar to each other. From frequency analyses of the seismic signals, a negative correlation is found between the dominant frequencies of the seismic signals and the distance from the avalanche release point to the location of the seismograph. On the other hand, the positive correlation is found between the total energy of the seismic wave and the avalanche mass. The results indicate that the avalanche release point and avalanche mass can be estimated.
Right : Since a seismic wave associated with a snow avalanche may contain considerable information about the avalanche itself, seismic observation using 4 seismographs was carried out at Toikanbetsu (N45°, E142°), Northern Hokkaido, Japan during 80 days from January to April 2001. This paper first discusses the characteristics of the sesmic signals. Second techniques to estimate the avalanche release point and its scale are developed. As a result of this observation, totally 50 seismic waves from full-depth avalanches were obtained. They correspond to 86% of all observed avalanches, which indicates that monitoring of avalanches with seismographs is useful. The shapes of waves from avalanches released at the same point are similar to each other. From frequency analyses of the seismic signals, a negative correlation is found between the dominant frequencies of the seismic signals and the distance from the avalanche release point to the location of the seismograph. On the other hand, the positive correlation is found between the total energy of the seismic wave and the avalanche mass. The results indicate that the avalanche release point and avalanche mass can be estimated.

Date of correction: August 07, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: AFFILIATION Details: Wrong :
1) Institute of Low Temparature Science, Hokkaido University
2) Nagaoka Institute of Snow and Ice Studies, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention
3) Division of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University

Right :
1) Institute of Low Temparature Science, Hokkaido University
2) Nagaoka Institute of Snow and Ice Studies, National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention
3) Division of Earth and Planetary Science, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University

Date of correction: August 07, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : Lawrence, W. and Williams, T. R., 1976 : Seismic signals associated with avalanches. Journal of Glaciology,17(77), 521-526.
Leprettre, J. P., Navarre, J-P. and Taillefer, A., 1996 : First results from a pre-operational system for automatic detection and recognition of seismic signals associated with avalanches. Journal of Glaciology, 42(141), 352-363.
Leprettre, J. P., Navarre, J-P., Panel, J. M., Touvier, F., Taillefer, A. and Roulle, J., 1998 : Prototype for operational seismic detection of natural avalanches. Annals of Glaciology, 26, 313-318.
Nishimura, K. and Izumi, K., 1997 : Seismic signals induced by snow avalanche flow. Natural Hazard, 15, 89-100.
Sabot, F., Naaim, M., Granada, F., Surinach, E., Planet, P. and Furdada, G., 1998: Study of avalanche dynamics by seismic methods, image-processing techniques and numerical models. Annals of Glaciology, 26, 319-323.
Salway, A. A., 1978: A seismic and pressure transducer system for monitoring velocities and impact pressures of snow avalanches. Arctic and Alpine Research, 10(4), 769-774.
Suriñach, E., Sabot, F., Furdada, G. and Vilaplana, J. M., 2000: Study of seismic signals of artificially released snow avalanches for monitoring purposes. Phys. Chem. Earth (B), 25(9), 721-727.
Suriñach, E., Furdada, G., Sabot, E, Biescas, B. and Vilaplana, J. M., 2001 : On the characterization of seismic signals generated by snow avalanche for monitoring purposes. Annals of Glaciology, 32, 268-274.

Right : Lawrence, W. and Williams, T. R., 1976 : Seismic signals associated with avalanches. Journal of Glaciology,17(77), 521-526.
Leprettre, J. P., Navarre, J-P. and Taillefer, A., 1996 : First results from a pre-operational system for automatic detection and recognition of seismic signals associated with avalanches. Journal of Glaciology, 42(141), 352-363.
Leprettre, J. P., Navarre, J-P., Panel, J. M., Touvier, F., Taillefer, A. and Roulle, J., 1998 : Prototype for operational seismic detection of natural avalanches. Annals of Glaciology, 26, 313-318.
Nishimura, K. and Izumi, K., 1997 : Seismic signals induced by snow avalanche flow. Natural Hazard, 15, 89-100.
Sabot, F., Naaim, M., Granada, F., Surinach, E., Planet, P. and Furdada, G., 1998: Study of avalanche dynamics by seismic methods, image-processing techniques and numerical models. Annals of Glaciology, 26, 319-323.
Salway, A. A., 1978: A seismic and pressure transducer system for monitoring velocities and impact pressures of snow avalanches. Arctic and Alpine Research, 10(4), 769-774.
Suriñach, E., Sabot, F., Furdada, G. and Vilaplana, J. M., 2000: Study of seismic signals of artificially released snow avalanches for monitoring purposes. Phys. Chem. Earth (B), 25(9), 721-727.
Suriñach, E., Furdada, G., Sabot, E, Biescas, B. and Vilaplana, J. M., 2001 : On the characterization of seismic signals generated by snow avalanche for monitoring purposes. Annals of Glaciology, 32, 268-274.

Abstract

Since a seismic wave associated with a snow avalanche may contain considerable information about the avalanche itself, seismic observation using 4 seismographs was carried out at Toikanbetsu (N45°, E142°), Northern Hokkaido, Japan during 80 days from January to April 2001. This paper first discusses the characteristics of the sesmic signals. Second techniques to estimate the avalanche release point and its scale are developed. As a result of this observation, totally 50 seismic waves from full-depth avalanches were obtained. They correspond to 86% of all observed avalanches, which indicates that monitoring of avalanches with seismographs is useful. The shapes of waves from avalanches released at the same point are similar to each other. From frequency analyses of the seismic signals, a negative correlation is found between the dominant frequencies of the seismic signals and the distance from the avalanche release point to the location of the seismograph. On the other hand, the positive correlation is found between the total energy of the seismic wave and the avalanche mass. The results indicate that the avalanche release point and avalanche mass can be estimated.

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