Swiss Develop Device to Help Avalanche Forecasts
3rd February 2025
The Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research has granted a group of Swiss researchers a patent for a device named a ‘Snowimager’. The device examines the length between different…
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The Swiss Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research has granted a group of Swiss researchers a patent for a device named a ‘Snowimager’.
The device examines the length between different layers of snow in the snowpack.
According to the SLF, the device speeds up and standardises the process.
It has the potential to replace traditional, manual snow profiles in the long term.
Snow layers vary in density and the type of snow crystals.
Their boundaries and composition are crucial for avalanche warning services to identify weak layers, which can break spontaneously or under pressure.
The device uses invisible near-infrared light to analyse the density and grain size of snow layers.
See here for the full story on Swiss Info
Avalanche in the Alps. Image © PlanetSKI
