@article{ref1,
title="Mechanisms of slab avalanche release and impact in the Dyatlov Pass incident in 1959",
journal="Communications Earth & Environment",
year="2021",
author="Gaume, Johan and Puzrin, Alexander M.",
volume="2",
number="1",
pages="1-11",
abstract="The Dyatlov Pass incident is an intriguing unsolved mystery from the last century. In February 1959, a group of nine experienced Russian mountaineers perished during a difficult expedition in the northern Urals. A snow avalanche hypothesis was proposed, among other theories, but was found to be inconsistent with the evidence of a lower-than-usual slope angle, scarcity of avalanche signs, uncertainties about the trigger mechanism, and abnormal injuries of the victims. The challenge of explaining these observations has led us to a physical mechanism for a slab avalanche caused by progressive wind-blown snow accumulation on the slope above the hikers' tent. Here we show how a combination of irregular topography, a cut made in the slope to install the tent and the subsequent deposition of snow induced by strong katabatic winds contributed after a suitable time to the slab release, which caused severe non-fatal injuries, in agreement with the autopsy results.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2662-4435",
doi="10.1038/s43247-020-00081-8",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s43247-020-00081-8"
}