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December 19, 2008
What went wrong in Whistler?
The collapse of a ski lift tower in Whistler has ski-hill operators across North America checking to see if frozen water is collecting in their lift towers and making them susceptible to rupturing. SFU earth scientist John Clague says that ice-jacking, the reason cited by Whistler ski resort officials as the cause of the recent gondola tower crash, fails to identify the root of the problem. The gondola tower failed when water seeped into the overlap between two sections and froze. “When water freezes, it expands, potentially creating huge forces. The two sections of the tower were welded and bolted together,” says Clague. “Had the welds been done correctly, no water could have entered the space between the sections. Faulty welds are human error.”
Thank climate change, not Mother Nature
Increasingly severe weather patterns are prompting atmospheric scientists to try to figure out the regional and even local impact of global climate-change related weather forecasts. SFU earth scientist John Clague says such “downscale forecasting” is virtually impossible but British Columbians can expect to see more variable winter precipitation. “I anticipate heavier snowfalls and more frequent winter thaws. These are conditions conducive to avalanches, rockfalls and other types of landslides,” says Clague, who advises adventuresome skiers and snowboarders to stay within ski resort boundaries rather than test Mother Nature. Clague can talk about plans for climate-change related research at SFU’s new Faculty of Environment.
John Clague, jclague@sfu.ca (Clague is traveling in the United States and best accessible via email)
The collapse of a ski lift tower in Whistler has ski-hill operators across North America checking to see if frozen water is collecting in their lift towers and making them susceptible to rupturing. SFU earth scientist John Clague says that ice-jacking, the reason cited by Whistler ski resort officials as the cause of the recent gondola tower crash, fails to identify the root of the problem. The gondola tower failed when water seeped into the overlap between two sections and froze. “When water freezes, it expands, potentially creating huge forces. The two sections of the tower were welded and bolted together,” says Clague. “Had the welds been done correctly, no water could have entered the space between the sections. Faulty welds are human error.”
Thank climate change, not Mother Nature
Increasingly severe weather patterns are prompting atmospheric scientists to try to figure out the regional and even local impact of global climate-change related weather forecasts. SFU earth scientist John Clague says such “downscale forecasting” is virtually impossible but British Columbians can expect to see more variable winter precipitation. “I anticipate heavier snowfalls and more frequent winter thaws. These are conditions conducive to avalanches, rockfalls and other types of landslides,” says Clague, who advises adventuresome skiers and snowboarders to stay within ski resort boundaries rather than test Mother Nature. Clague can talk about plans for climate-change related research at SFU’s new Faculty of Environment.
John Clague, jclague@sfu.ca (Clague is traveling in the United States and best accessible via email)