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Snow avalanche hazard assessment and risk management in northern Quebec, eastern Canada

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  • Daniel Germain

    (Université du Québec à Montréal)

Abstract

In the northern environments of Quebec (eastern Canada), snow avalanche hazards have been ignored for a long time because no major incident was recorded before the tragedies of Blanc-Sablon (Lower North Shore of the St. Lawrence River) in 1995 and Kangiqsualujjuaq (Nunavik) in 1999. To enhance risk reduction at these sites, this research on process characteristics describes prone terrain, run-out distance and triggering factors, and prompted efforts (permanent and temporary measures) made to mitigate and prevent future snow avalanche tragedy from short, steep slopes. Considering the high vulnerability of these communities related to the growing population of Nunavik and the lack of knowledge of avalanches on the Lower North Shore, acceptable risk was based on the implementation of a snow avalanche forecasting and warning program over 3 years, the first one in eastern Canada. Community participation and the involvement of the municipal and provincial authorities have enabled the efficient operation of the program and accentuate the sensitivity and resilience of the populations to avalanche hazard and risk, as evidenced by the subsequent identification of avalanche sites by the communities themselves. These case studies demonstrate the importance of adequate and safe land planning, notably in the context of climate change, and particularly for isolated northern communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Germain, 2016. "Snow avalanche hazard assessment and risk management in northern Quebec, eastern Canada," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 80(2), pages 1303-1321, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:80:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s11069-015-2024-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-015-2024-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bruce Jamieson & Chris Stethem, 2002. "Snow Avalanche Hazards and Management in Canada: Challenges and Progress," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 26(1), pages 35-53, May.
    2. Chris Stethem & Bruce Jamieson & Peter Schaerer & David Liverman & Daniel Germain & Simon Walker, 2003. "Snow Avalanche Hazard in Canada – a Review," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 28(2), pages 487-515, March.
    3. Daniel Germain & Louise Filion & Bernard Hétu, 2009. "Snow avalanche regime and climatic conditions in the Chic-Choc Range, eastern Canada," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 92(1), pages 141-167, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. F. Gauthier & D. Germain & B. Hétu, 2017. "Logistic models as a forecasting tool for snow avalanches in a cold maritime climate: northern Gaspésie, Québec, Canada," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 89(1), pages 201-232, October.
    2. Alexandra Sawatzky & Ashlee Cunsolo & Andria Jones-Bitton & Jacqueline Middleton & Sherilee L. Harper, 2018. "Responding to Climate and Environmental Change Impacts on Human Health via Integrated Surveillance in the Circumpolar North: A Systematic Realist Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-37, November.
    3. Qiuxuan Xu & Feiyan Huang & Shuhang Mou & Heng Lu, 2023. "Snow Disaster Hazard Assessment on the Tibetan Plateau Based on Copula Function," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, July.

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