TY - JOUR A1 - Fischer, Jan-Thomas A1 - Kowalski, Julia A1 - Pudasaini, Shiva P. A1 - Miller, S. A. T1 - Dynamic Avalanche Modeling in Natural Terrain JF - International Snow Science Workshop, Davos 2009, Proceedings ; Proc. ISSW 2009 N2 - The powerful avalanche simulation toolbox RAMMS (Rapid Mass Movements) is based on a depth-averaged hydrodynamic system of equations with a Voellmy-Salm friction relation. The two empirical friction parameters μ and � correspond to a dry Coulomb friction and a viscous resistance, respectively. Although μ and � lack a proper physical explanation, 60 years of acquired avalanche data in the Swiss Alps made a systematic calibration possible. RAMMS can therefore successfully model avalanche flow depth, velocities, impact pressure and run out distances. Pudasaini and Hutter (2003) have proposed extended, rigorously derived model equations that account for local curvature and twist. A coordinate transformation into a reference system, applied to the actual mountain topography of the natural avalanche path, is performed. The local curvature and the twist of the avalanche path induce an additional term in the overburden pressure. This leads to a modification of the Coulomb friction, the free-surface pressure gradient, the pressure induced by the channel, and the gravity components along and normal to the curved and twisted reference surface. This eventually guides the flow dynamics and deposits of avalanches. In the present study, we investigate the influence of curvature on avalanche flow in real mountain terrain. Simulations of real avalanche paths are performed and compared for the different models approaches. An algorithm to calculate curvature in real terrain is introduced in RAMMS. This leads to a curvature dependent friction relation in an extended version of the Voellmy-Salm model equations. Our analysis provides yet another step in interpreting the physical meaning and significance of the friction parameters used in the RAMMS computational environment. KW - snow KW - avalanche Y1 - 2009 SP - 448 EP - 452 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - McArdell, Brian W. A1 - Bartelt, Perry A1 - Kowalski, Julia T1 - Field observations of basal forces and fluid pore pressure in a debris flow JF - Geophysical Research Letters (GRL) N2 - Using results from an 8 m2 instrumented force plate we describe field measurements of normal and shear stresses, and fluid pore pressure for a debris flow. The flow depth increased from 0.1 to 1 m within the first 12 s of flow front arrival, remained relatively constant until 100 s, and then gradually decreased to 0.5 m by 600 s. Normal and shear stresses and pore fluid pressure varied in-phase with the flow depth. Calculated bulk densities are ρb = 2000–2250 kg m−3 for the bulk flow and ρf = 1600–1750 kg m−3 for the fluid phase. The ratio of effective normal stress to shear stress yields a Coulomb basal friction angle of ϕ = 26° at the flow front. We did not find a strong correlation between the degree of agitation in the flow, estimated using the signal from a geophone on the force plate, and an assumed dynamic pore fluid pressure. Our data support the idea that excess pore-fluid pressures are long lived in debris flows and therefore contribute to their unusual mobility. KW - debris flow Y1 - 2007 SN - 0094-8276 VL - 34 IS - 7 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Heierli, Joachim A1 - Purves, Ross S. A1 - Felber, Andreas A1 - Kowalski, Julia T1 - Verification of nearest-neighbours interpretations in avalanche forecasting JF - Annals of Glaciology N2 - This paper examines the positive and negative aspects of a range of interpretations of nearest-neighbours models. Measures-oriented and distributionoriented verification methods are applied to categorial, probabilistic and descriptive interpretations of nearest neighbours used operationally in avalanche forecasting in Scotland and Switzerland. The dependence of skill and accuracy measures on base rate is illustrated. The purpose of the forecast and the definition of events are important variables in determining the quality of the forecast. A discussion of the application of different interpretations in operational avalanche forecasting is presented. KW - avalanche Y1 - 2004 SN - 1727-5644 VL - 38 IS - 1 SP - 84 EP - 88 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kowalski, Julia A1 - McElwaine, Jim N. T1 - Shallow two-component gravity-driven flows with vertical variation JF - Journal of Fluid Mechanics Y1 - 2013 SN - 0022-1120 VL - 714 SP - 434 EP - 462 PB - Cambridge Univ. Press CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Olaru, Alexandra Maria A1 - Kowalski, Julia A1 - Sethi, Vaishali A1 - Blümich, Bernhard T1 - Exchange relaxometry of flow at small Péclet numbers in a glass bead pack JF - Journal of Magnetic Resonance (JMR) N2 - In this paper we consider low Péclet number flow in bead packs. A series of relaxation exchange experiments has been conducted and evaluated by ILT analysis. In the resulting correlation maps, we observed a collapse of the signal and a translation towards smaller relaxation times with increasing flow rates, as well as a signal tilt with respect to the diagonal. In the discussion of the phenomena we present a mathematical theory for relaxation exchange experiments that considers both diffusive and advective transport. We perform simulations based on this theory and discuss them with respect to the conducted experiments. KW - NMR exchange relaxometry KW - Low-field NMR Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jmr.2012.04.015 SN - 1096-0856 VL - 220 SP - 32 EP - 44 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fischer, Jan-Thomas A1 - Kowalski, Julia A1 - Pudasaini, Shiva P. T1 - Topographic curvature effects in applied avalanche modelling JF - Cold Regions Science and Technology N2 - This paper describes the implementation of topographic curvature effects within the RApid Mass MovementS (RAMMS) snow avalanche simulation toolbox. RAMMS is based on a model similar to shallow water equations with a Coulomb friction relation and the velocity dependent Voellmy drag. It is used for snow avalanche risk assessment in Switzerland. The snow avalanche simulation relies on back calculation of observed avalanches. The calibration of the friction parameters depends on characteristics of the avalanche track. The topographic curvature terms are not yet included in the above mentioned classical model. Here, we fundamentally improve this model by mathematically and physically including the topographic curvature effects. By decomposing the velocity dependent friction into a topography dependent term that accounts for a curvature enhancement in the Coulomb friction, and a topography independent contribution similar to the classical Voellmy drag, we construct a general curvature dependent frictional resistance, and thus propose new extended model equations. With three site-specific examples, we compare the apparent frictional resistance of the new approach, which includes topographic curvature effects, to the classical one. Our simulation results demonstrate substantial effects of the curvature on the flow dynamics e.g., the dynamic pressure distribution along the slope. The comparison of resistance coefficients between the two models demonstrates that the physically based extension presents an improvement to the classical approach. Furthermore a practical example highlights its influence on the pressure outline in the run out zone of the avalanche. Snow avalanche dynamics modeling natural terrain curvature centrifugal force friction coefficients. KW - Snow KW - Avalanche Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2012.01.005 SN - 1872-7441 VL - 74-75 SP - 21 EP - 30 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Bühler, Yves A1 - Christen, Marc A1 - Kowalski, Julia A1 - Bartelt, Perry T1 - Sensitivity of snow avalanche simulations to digital elevation model quality and resolution JF - Annals of Glaciology N2 - Digital elevation models (DEMs), represent the three-dimensional terrain and are the basic input for numerical snow avalanche dynamics simulations. DEMs can be acquired using topographic maps or remote-sensing technologies, such as photogrammetry or lidar. Depending on the acquisition technique, different spatial resolutions and qualities are achieved. However, there is a lack of studies that investigate the sensitivity of snow avalanche simulation algorithms to the quality and resolution of DEMs. Here, we perform calculations using the numerical avalance dynamics model RAMMS, varying the quality and spatial resolution of the underlying DEMs, while holding the simulation parameters constant. We study both channelized and open-terrain avalanche tracks with variable roughness. To quantify the variance of these simulations, we use well-documented large-scale avalanche events from Davos, Switzerland (winter 2007/08), and from our large-scale avalanche test site, Valĺee de la Sionne (winter 2005/06). We find that the DEM resolution and quality is critical for modeled flow paths, run-out distances, deposits, velocities and impact pressures. Although a spatial resolution of ~25 m is sufficient for large-scale avalanche modeling, the DEM datasets must be checked carefully for anomalies and artifacts before using them for dynamics calculations. KW - snow KW - avalanche Y1 - 2011 SN - 1727-5644 VL - 52 IS - 58 SP - 72 EP - 80 PB - Cambridge University Press CY - Cambridge ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Kowalski, Julia T1 - Mathematische Murgangmodellierung JF - Newsletter Naturgefahren Y1 - 2008 VL - 2008 IS - 2 SP - 4 EP - 5 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Konstantinidis, Konstantinos A1 - Flores Martinez, Claudio A1 - Dachwald, Bernd A1 - Ohndorf, Andreas A1 - Dykta, Paul A1 - Bowitz, Pascal A1 - Rudolph, Martin A1 - Digel, Ilya A1 - Kowalski, Julia A1 - Voigt, Konstantin A1 - Förstner, Roger T1 - A lander mission to probe subglacial water on Saturn's moon enceladus for life JF - Acta astronautica Y1 - 2015 SN - 1879-2030 (E-Journal); 0094-5765 (Print) VL - Vol. 106 SP - 63 EP - 89 PB - Elsevier CY - Amsterdam ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Dachwald, Bernd A1 - Mikucki, Jill A1 - Tulaczyk, Slawek A1 - Digel, Ilya A1 - Espe, Clemens A1 - Feldmann, Marco A1 - Francke, Gero A1 - Kowalski, Julia A1 - Xu, Changsheng T1 - IceMole : A maneuverable probe for clean in situ analysis and sampling of subsurface ice and subglacial aquatic ecosystems JF - Annals of Glaciology N2 - There is significant interest in sampling subglacial environments for geobiological studies, but they are difficult to access. Existing ice-drilling technologies make it cumbersome to maintain microbiologically clean access for sample acquisition and environmental stewardship of potentially fragile subglacial aquatic ecosystems. The IceMole is a maneuverable subsurface ice probe for clean in situ analysis and sampling of glacial ice and subglacial materials. The design is based on the novel concept of combining melting and mechanical propulsion. It can change melting direction by differential heating of the melting head and optional side-wall heaters. The first two prototypes were successfully tested between 2010 and 2012 on glaciers in Switzerland and Iceland. They demonstrated downward, horizontal and upward melting, as well as curve driving and dirt layer penetration. A more advanced probe is currently under development as part of the Enceladus Explorer (EnEx) project. It offers systems for obstacle avoidance, target detection, and navigation in ice. For the EnEx-IceMole, we will pay particular attention to clean protocols for the sampling of subglacial materials for biogeochemical analysis. We plan to use this probe for clean access into a unique subglacial aquatic environment at Blood Falls, Antarctica, with return of a subglacial brine sample. KW - Antarctic Glaciology KW - Extraterrestrial Glaciology KW - Glaciological instruments and methods KW - Subclacial exploration KW - Subglacial lakes Y1 - 2014 U6 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/2014AoG65A004 SN - 1727-5644 VL - 55 IS - 65 SP - 14 EP - 22 PB - Cambridge University Press CY - Cambridge ER -