Vår 2026

GEO-3139 Snow Avalanche Science and Management - 10 stp

The course is administrated by

Institutt for geovitenskap

Type of course

This course is available as a single course.

Course contents

This course investigates snow and avalanches in the Norwegian Arctic and introduces diverse strategies for managing their associated risks. We will approach snow avalanches as a natural hazard by first reviewing the physical processes which govern snow avalanche activity including mountain meteorology, the physics of snow on the ground, and mechanics of avalanche release. We will use a variety of empirical and physically based models to better understand avalanche movement. This process understanding will then allow us to explore avalanche risk management strategies including hazard mapping, design of structural mitigation measures, and site-specific avalanche forecasting. We will then employ this knowledge to assess avalanche risk and develop risk mitigation strategies for selected infrastructure around Tromsø. Classroom-based learning activities include lectures, seminar activities, group work. Field activities will occur throughout the course and will focus on field visits to locations where avalanches threaten infrastructure in addition to fieldwork to study snow and avalanche processes in the mountains.

Admission requirements

Admission to the master’s program in geosciences requires a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification (180 ECTS) in geosciences. In addition, specialization in geology, geophysics, or equivalent of at least 80 ECTS is required. Applicants must have a minimum grade average comparable to a Norwegian "C" (2.5) in the ECTS scale, see the UiT webpage for international admissions for more information on how the point average is calculated.

Application code: 9371.

Obligatory prerequisites

GEO-2011 GIS and geostatisticsor GEO-2022 Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

Objective of the course

Knowledge:

The student has:

Knowledge of the physical processes in the seasonal snowpack and the ability to describe how these processes govern avalanche formation and release.
Knowledge and understanding of snow avalanche movement and the ability to employ diverse modeling strategies to estimate velocities, pressure and runout.
Knowledge of how site-specific avalanche forecasting system functions.
Knowledge of the differing mitigation strategies used to manage avalanche risk as well as an understanding of how and when differing measures may be selected and applied.

Skills:

The student can

Identify, distinguish, and describe avalanche terrain.
Recognize different snow avalanche types and their triggering mechanisms.
Use advanced knowledge and field techniques to observe the snowpack for the purposes of avalanche hazard assessment.
Use a statistical avalanche model to estimate the runout length.
Use diverse modeling strategies to calculate snow avalanche velocities and understand avalanche dynamics.
Utilize tools including regional hazard forecasts and snowpack assessments to safely manage groups in the mountains.
Suggest mitigation measures for a given risk object.
Produce a basic hazard assessment following the Norwegian guidelines in tek17.

General competence:

The student can:

Recognize, assess, quantify and communicate the hazard posed by avalanches to human infrastructure and settlements.
Use the correct terminology to describe the snowpack and different types of snow avalanches.
Solve a basic problem of avalanche terrain, snowpack stability and model runout behavior.
Communicate the national regulations for snow avalanche hazard management and make basic recommendations about management approaches.

Language of instruction

English

Teaching methods

The course will consist of ca. 70 hours of in-class time in the format of lectures, seminars, and exercises. Ca. 40 hours of fieldwork will augment in-class activities. The students are expected to spend up to ca. 25 hours outside of class working on their final group report.