Performance of Snow Fence at Banihal Top in Himalayan Region

Abstract

A continuous snow fence of 50% porosity, 130 m in length, and 4.0 m height was installed to overcome the snowdrift problems at Banihal Top (Jammu and Kashmir, India) in the Himalayan region. The avalanche sites, which affect the north and south Portals of the Jawahar Tunnel, have catchment areas near Banihal Top. The width of mountainous ridge at this site is about 60 m except within a central depression area where the width is about 200–250 m. Snow mass is eroded from the southern windward slope and deposited on the northern leeward slope toward the Kashmir valley during the winter. The rates of erosion and deposition of snow are controlled by snow characteristics, the snow surface roughness, terrain features, and the snow fence configuration. The snow at Banihal Top is wet in nature and snow deposition due to snow drifting is found to be about