Conference Paper (published)

End User Interpretation of the Avalanche Danger Scale: A Scottish Study

Details

Citation

Ebert PA, Miller DL, Comerford DA & Diggins M (2024) End User Interpretation of the Avalanche Danger Scale: A Scottish Study. In: Proceedings of the International Snow Science Workshop 2024, Tromsø, Norway. Proceedings of the International Snow Science Workshop. International Snow Science Workshop, Tromsø, Norway, 23.09.2024-27.09.2024. Montana: Montana State University Library, pp. 1626 - 1632. https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/item.php?id=3361

Abstract
In this study, we investigate Scottish end users' understanding and interpretation of the five point European Avalanche Danger Scale. Our main findings are, first, that many end users report to draw on detailed avalanche information including the avalanche problem information in their planning. Second, only seven in ten end users are aware that there are five danger levels. Third, end users' risk perception of the danger scale, which we elicited using numerical probability judgements about each danger level, increases mostly linearly-results that cohere well with recent findings by Morgan et al. (2023) who used a different response format and a North American user group. Lastly, we report the results of an exploratory analysis whether individual characteristics of end users (such as their outdoor sport experience, age, gender, avalanche education), predict the individuals' interpretation of the danger level. We find these characteristics have little explanatory power, which suggests that avalanche education needs to take a broad and inclusive approach to improve the intended understanding of the avalanche danger scale. We finish our discussion by contextualising the main findings.

Keywords
avalanche danger scale; probability; risk perception; avalanche risk communication

StatusPublished
FundersAHRC Arts and Humanities Research Council
Title of seriesProceedings of the International Snow Science Workshop
Publication date23/09/2024
Publication date online23/09/2024
URLhttp://hdl.handle.net/1893/36340
PublisherMontana State University Library
Publisher URLhttps://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/item.php?id=3361
Place of publicationMontana
ConferenceInternational Snow Science Workshop
Conference locationTromsø, Norway
Dates

People (2)

Professor David Comerford

Professor David Comerford

Professor, Economics

Professor Philip Ebert

Professor Philip Ebert

Professor, Philosophy

Projects (1)

Files (1)

Research centres/groups