An avalanche (also called a snowslide) is an event that occurs when a
cohesive slab of snow lying upon a weaker layer of snow fractures and
slides down a steep slope. Avalanches are typically triggered in a
starting zone from a mechanical failure in the snowpack (slab
avalanche) when the forces of the snow exceed its strength but
sometimes only with gradual widening (loose snow avalanche). After
initiation, avalanches usually accelerate rapidly and grow in mass and
volume as they entrain more snow. If the avalanche moves fast enough,
some of the snow may mix with the air forming a powder snow avalanche,
which is a type of gravity current.Slides of rocks or debris, behaving
in a similar way to snow, are also referred to as avalanches (see
rockslide). The remainder of this article refers to snow avalanches,
because they are the ones that occur the most in the world.The load on
the snowpack may be only due to gravity, in which case failure may
result either from weakening in the snowpack or increased load due to
precipitation. Avalanches initiated by this process are known as
spontaneous avalanches. Avalanches can also be triggered by other
loading conditions such as human or biologically related activities.
Seismic activity (activities in the earth's crust relating to plate
movements) may also trigger the failure in the snowpack and
avalanches.Although primarily composed of flowing snow and air, large
avalanches have the capability to entrain ice, rocks, trees, and other
surficial material. However, they are distinct from slushflows which
have higher water content and more laminar flow, mudslides which have
greater fluidity, rock slides which are often ice free, and serac
collapses during an icefall. Avalanches are not rare or random events
and are endemic to any mountain range that accumulates a standing
snowpack. Avalanches are most common during winter or spring but
glacier movements may cause ice and snow avalanches at any time of
year. In mountainous terrain, avalanches are among the most serious
objective natural hazards to life and property, with their destructive
capability resulting from their potential to carry enormous masses of
snow at high speeds. Avalanche Biography, NetWorth, Height, Age, Weight, Family, Married, Son, Daughter