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Vorarlberg - english · Avalanche Warning Service · Responsibilities and services
Security & Domestic - Avalanche Warning Service
Measuring stations
Observer Alfred Schäfer at his station in Faschina.
Ewald Amann in his measurement area in Mittelberg - Baad.
III. Avalanche Warning Service activities and equipment
Measurement and observation network:
The basis for assessing and evaluating imminent avalanche hazard is a comprehensive measurement and observation network in the Vorarlberg mountain region. It is made up of manned and automatic stations.
Manned measuring stations:
In the winter season, eight observers submit their weather and snow data, as well as their estimation of avalanche hazard for their region, to the Avalanche Warning Service, from measuring stations that are manned constantly each day from 6.30 to 7.30 – or additionally as required in extraordinary situations. Snow profiles are also recorded at regular intervals, to analyse the consistency of the snow and feed this information into the avalanche hazard assessment. Personal contact and exchange of information with the observers locally forms an extremely valuable basis for making decisions from which to draw up a general avalanche status report.
The stations are currently manned by the following observers:
Code Registration office Altitude Observer 1 Langen am Arlberg 1200 m Manfred Santer 3 Baad/Kleinwalstertal 1305 m Alois Hilbrand 5 Damüls 1400 m Mathias Bischof 6 Faschina 1500 m Alfred Schäfer 7 Körbersee 1650 m Fritz Schlierenzauer 8 Zürs 1750 m Walter Reiter 88 Trittkopf 2430 m Walter Reiter 9 Vermunt/Bielerhöhe 2045 m VIW employee 10 Silvretta Nova 1960 m Klaus Mattle
Automatic measuring stations:
During the past 15 years, a network of automatic measuring stations has been set up and continually updated by private operators in cooperation with the Avalanche Warning Service. As a result, critical information can be retrieved from over 20 stations in the winter months. This is currently done offline, in other words data is retrieved from the stations automatically or manually as required via telephone modem, then it is read into the system and shown as a graphic display.
The data concerned is the statistics for humidity, air temperature, precipitation, recent snowfall, snow depth, wind direction, wind strength (gusts and average). The data is shown using a line graph, which provides useful support for assessing the current avalanche situation.
Map of the measuring stations (link to German page)