Videos - Snow & avalanche science

The videos posted to this channel since ~2015 are by Bruce Jamieson and colleagues. Some of the earlier videos on this channel are links to videos made by Bruce Jamieson and ASARC colleagues (snowavalanchearchive.com/asarc). The links to all these videos can be shared freely and the videos used for any purpose, including commercially, provided the content and authorship are not altered.

To locate a specific video, go to your browser and enter: vimeo jamieson video keywords

Skier triggering. 2D animation
00:22

Skier triggering. 2D animation

A cheesy animation of skier triggering, showing the crack in the weak layer then at the crown. CC BY-ND
Is slab tension a condition that makes rider-triggered avalanches more likely?
20:53

Is slab tension a condition that makes rider-triggered avalanches more likely?

Slab tension means different things to different avalanche practitioners (survey summer 2022). In this (controversial?) 21 minute video, Bruce Jamieson, Karl Birkeland, Grant Statham and Scott Thumlert summarize some common perceptions about slab tension, then review the role of slab tension in the modern understanding of dry slab avalanche release.
Triggering a persistent slab avalanche from a thin spot
06:21

Triggering a persistent slab avalanche from a thin spot

Triggering a persistent slab avalanche from a thin spot is infrequent, insidious and potentially deadly. This 6 minute video outlines the snowpack conditions and mechanics. Intended for intermediate and advanced backcountry recreationists and those interested in avalanche science. Feb 2022. CC BY-ND
An intro to snow avalanche dynamics and impact
19:24

An intro to snow avalanche dynamics and impact

An introduction to snow avalanche dynamics and impact. Includes avalanches in motion but no models and almost no math. Intended for anyone interested in avalanche science, early career avalanche practitioners, and Christian Jaedicke's students (perhaps as pre-course material?) Bruce Jamieson and Christian Jaedicke. October 2021.
It's convex. Should I avoid it?
19:26

It's convex. Should I avoid it?

Views on the roles of convexities in human triggered avalanches vary widely. In this educational video intended for intermediate and advanced winter backcountry recreationists, Ron Simenhois and Bruce Jamieson present various perspectives and research on human triggering near convex slopes. CC BY-ND.
Energy exchange (heat transfers) at the snow surface
14:52

Energy exchange (heat transfers) at the snow surface

Educational video about the energy exchange at the snow surface and some of the persistent weak snowpack layers formed primarily by the energy exchange. Updated 31 Dec 2017.
Why does snow cool when melted with salt, and what does that have to do with avalanches?
06:29

Why does snow cool when melted with salt, and what does that have to do with avalanches?

When salt is added to snow, the snow cools because heat from the snow flows into concentrated salt water around the salt grains. The surprisingly large amount of heat required for melting (i.e. latent heat) contributes to avalanche formation in at least two ways.
How do natural dry slab avalanches release?
12:05

How do natural dry slab avalanches release?

This video presents the technical concepts behind the current theory for the natural release (or spontaneous) of dry slab avalanches. There are a few questions and answers at the end for keeners.
Crack propagation in human-triggered slab avalanches and snowpack tests
05:59

Crack propagation in human-triggered slab avalanches and snowpack tests

For a skier, snowmobiler or other load to trigger a slab avalanche: the dynamic load must start a crack in a weak layer and then crack propagation must be sustained away from the load. There is no one paper that summarizes the ideas in this video, but you could start by searching for "simenhois fracture propagation" and read the short 2009 article. Thanks to Alec van Herwijnen, Cam Campbell and the Asarc crew for the video clips and photos.
Case study of facets-on-crust in western Canada
16:42

Case study of facets-on-crust in western Canada

A case study for avalanche practitioners about a difficult winter in which a weak layer of facets on a melt-freeze crust produced avalanches - including many hard to forecast avalanches - throughout the winter.
Infrared images of the pit wall for avalanche forecasting? For avalanche education?
09:40

Infrared images of the pit wall for avalanche forecasting? For avalanche education?

A field experiment shows major limitations of IR images of the pit wall for avalanche forecasting. However, some free images are excellent for avalanche education.
Solar induced dry slab avalanches
11:46

Solar induced dry slab avalanches

A video for avalanche practitioners and advanced recreationsts about a poorly understood phenomenon that has surprised - sometimes tragically - many experienced people in the backcountry.