Spanish avalanche research : experimental sites and seismic measurements Recherches espagnoles dans le domaine des avalanches : sites expérimentaux et mesures sismiques

Seismic signals generated by avalanches have been studied by the avalanche team of the Universitat de Barcelona since 1994. The aim of the study is to understand the avalanche seismic signals in relation to their sources to obtain information on the avalanche dynamics and hence use seismic measurements for monitoring purposes. To this end, experiments focused on improving the knowledge of seismic signals generated by avalanches have been carried out by our group. The infrastructure and facilities of the ski resort of Vall de Núria (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) and Boí Taüll in the eastern Pyrenees (Spain) and the equipment of the Avalanche experimental site in Vallée de la Sionne (Switzerland) have been employed. The study of the seismic signals generated by the avalanches is undertaken from the view point of seismology in the time and frequency domains. Our procedure and some of the results of our research are presented.