The Avalanche Terrain Risk Scale (ATRS) can be to classify the risk associated with an avalanche.
Parameters:
(1) burial potential
(2) injury potential
(3) rescue chances
(4) starting zone
(5) vertical drop (height of mountain side involved)
(6) destructive forces
(7) injurious terrain features (trees, rock outcroppings, cliffs, etc.)
(8) deposition area for beacon search
Parameters |
Class 1 |
Class 2 |
Class 3 |
burial potential |
shallow burial |
shallow burial |
possible deep burial |
injury potential |
no injury |
mild injury |
moderate injury |
rescue |
self rescue probable |
probable |
questionable |
starting zone |
small |
small |
moderate |
vertical drop |
< 15 meters |
15 - 50 meters |
50 - 100 meters |
destructive forces |
minimal |
small |
moderate |
terrain features |
none |
none |
none |
deposition area |
small with consistent runout |
small with gradual, consistent runout |
moderate with abrupt transition |
Parameters |
Class 4 |
Class 5 |
burial potential |
deep burial |
deep burial |
injury potential |
severe injury |
severe injury and/or death |
rescue |
doubtful |
highly improbable |
starting zone |
large |
large or multiple at various elevations |
vertical drop |
> 100 meters |
mountainside |
destructive forces |
large |
potentially devastating |
terrain features |
<= 50% of slope potentially injurious |
> 50% of slope potentially injurious |
deposition area |
large |
very large or multiple |
Specialty: Emergency Medicine, Critical Care