Preliminary results at the Hijiori avalanche test site

ABSTRACT: Hijiori is one of the heaviest snow areas in Japan. Recently to observe blowing snow and avalanches, an almost perfect place was found in this area. There are both a long flat plain along the main wind direction and a long edge with slopes. When strong winds blow with heavy snowfall, snow cornices are formed quickly at the edge. During last three winters nine avalanche events were record-ed by a web camera, and five of them included collapse of the snow cornices. Thus we can observe avalanche occurrence, snow cornice formation and blowing snow at the same site