Analytical and numerical treatment of a singular initial value problem in avalanche modeling

We discuss a leading-edge model used in the computation of the run-out length of dry-flowing avalanches. The model has the form of a singular initial value problem for a scalar ordinary differential equation describing the avalanche dynamics. Existence, uniqueness and smoothness properties of the analytical solution are shown. We also prove the existence of a unique root of the solution. Moreover, we present a FORTRAN 90 code for the numerical computation of the run-out length. The code is based on a solver for singular initial value problems which is an implementation of the acceleration technique known as Iterated Defect Correction based on the implicit Euler method.