Enhanced backcountry images boost safety guidelines
The New Zealand Avalanche Advisory (NZAA), operated by MSC, has been a valuable resource for backcountry users during the winter months. With over 200 submissions this year, the NZAA public observations tool provides regional avalanche forecasters with crucial insights into the conditions, helping them develop accurate avalanche advisories.
These public observations, including photos, are classified as 'class 1' data and are used for scientific purposes by NIWA and the University of Otago. Submitting photos of conditions or avalanche paths, even without expertise, can provide valuable information.
In regions with few commercial alpine operators, public observations are particularly valuable. They offer a more comprehensive view of the conditions, helping to fill gaps in data. This data is instrumental in developing accurate avalanche advisories, ensuring the safety of those venturing into the backcountry.
The NZAA website, awarded bronze in the 2020 Best awards for the 'best user experience design' category, has been updated ahead of the current season to improve usability. This includes the ability to search past public observations, making it easier for users to plan their trips safely.
Chris Cochrane, a NZAA forecaster based in Queenstown, finds public observations helpful in understanding conditions for forecasting. Submissions come from across New Zealand, including reports of large-scale destructive avalanches and smaller, potentially dangerous events.
The NZAA provides regional avalanche forecasts for 12 mountainous regions during the avalanche seasons. The overall amount and quality of snow can significantly affect the number of public observations submitted each season. However, the encouraging annual increase in the total number of public observations submitted to the NZAA public observations tool demonstrates the tool's growing importance.
The MSC Chief Executive states that this type of data supports the development of accurate avalanche advisories, making the backcountry a safer place for all. Photos used in this article are credited to Jonathan Crane (Header: Pleasant Valley - 2021) and Nick Shearer (Tower Ridge, 2019).
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