Catalysts

Avalanches can be triggered by either natural or artificial events. Natural avalanches are intiated without any human intervention while artificial avalanches are triggered by man.

Examples of each kind of trigger are given below:

Natural avalanches

• falling cornice - an overhanging wall that can collapse
• metamorphism of snow
• seismic events
• wind
• rock falls
• heavy snowfall
• rain

Artificial avalanches

• skiers
• snowmobilers
• sonic boom
• explosives