Abstrakt
A huge avalanche released on 14th March 1970 from the saddleback of Ďurková below the Low Tatras mountain ridge, which ran down through the whole valley and stopped close to the settlement of Magurka. The length and height of the avalanche path was enormous reaching 2,2 km and 22 m high respectively.
Taking other parameters into consideration (the length of the avalanche, the height of the avalanche release zone, total volume of snow) it can be categorised among the greatest avalanches ever observed in Slovakia. The major causes for such a big avalanche were unfavourable long-lasting snow and weather conditions.
However, the starting mechanism was, as in most cases, a man. RAMMS model was used for avalanche reconstruction.
It allows modelling the height of avalanche deposition, the speed of an avalanche flow and also the maximum pressure that was reached. All the required input data were derived from historical information, photographs and maps.
The avalanche has been successfully simulated and reconstructed. The total volume of deposited snow (relative deviation 0,16 %) revealed that the simulated released area and other input parameters were precisely approximated.
Small deviation between simulated and measured avalanche runout zone refers to good calibration of friction parameters. The results can be also applied to planning and constructing of anti- -avalanche structures and to minimizing the negative consequences of similar avalanche in the future.
Key words: avalanche,