Earth Sciences

An earthquake-triggered avalanche in Nepal in 2015 was exacerbated by climate variability and snowfall anomalies

Y. Zhuang, B. Dawadi, et al.

This research dives into the Gorkha earthquake-induced avalanche in Langtang Valley, Nepal, revealing how snow cover and elevated temperatures contributed to the disaster's severity. The study, conducted by Yu Zhuang, Binod Dawadi, Jakob Steiner, Rajesh Kumar Dash, Yves Bühler, Jessica Munch, and Perry Bartelt, employs field investigations and numerical modeling to shed light on these critical environmental factors.

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Abstract

On 25 April 2015, the Gorkha earthquake triggered a large rock-ice avalanche and an air blast disaster in the Langtang Valley, Nepal. This paper reconstructs the avalanche's evolution using field investigations and numerical modeling, examining the influence of snowfall anomalies and warm temperatures. Findings suggest deep snow cover fosters a dispersed avalanche, increasing the air blast's destructive power, while elevated temperatures intensify meltwater production and lubricate the flow. Both mechanisms contributed significantly to the Langtang disaster, highlighting the impact of snow cover and air temperature on high-altitude rock-ice avalanche risk assessment.

Publisher

Communications Earth & Environment

Published On

Aug 27, 2024

Authors

Yu Zhuang, Binod Dawadi, Jakob Steiner, Rajesh Kumar Dash, Yves Bühler, Jessica Munch, Perry Bartelt

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