Technology & Digital Tools Flashcards
7 cards from real ASC practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Technology & Digital Tools flashcards as text
What does the 'Special Avalanche Warning' (SAW) designation indicate in the US avalanche forecast system?
Answer: An urgent warning for life-threatening conditions outside normal forecast parameters
A Special Avalanche Warning is issued when extraordinarily dangerous conditions exist that warrant a message beyond the standard danger scale forecast.
When using drone technology for post-avalanche search and rescue, which sensor type is most effective for detecting buried victims?
Answer: Thermal infrared camera
Thermal infrared cameras detect body heat from buried victims, which can penetrate shallow snow layers and reveal victim locations to rescue teams.
In digital terrain analysis for avalanche risk, what slope angle range is color-coded as the 'red zone' in most mapping apps?
Answer: 30–45°
The 30–45° slope range represents the most avalanche-prone terrain and is universally color-coded red in slope angle mapping tools.
What does 'InSAR' satellite technology measure that is useful for regional avalanche hazard assessment?
Answer: Ground surface deformation and snow volume changes via radar interferometry
Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) measures millimeter-scale surface displacement, helping researchers track snowpack settlement and slope deformation.
Which feature distinguishes a 'smart' avalanche airbag system from a traditional manual deployment system?
Answer: It inflates automatically when sensors detect avalanche motion without requiring user action
Automatic deployment systems use accelerometers and algorithms to detect avalanche motion and trigger inflation without requiring the user to pull a handle.
What is the primary advantage of using a 3-antenna transceiver over an older 2-antenna model in a burial search?
Answer: 3-antenna devices provide accurate distance and directional data in all orientations of a buried transceiver
Three antennas oriented on three axes ensure the device can accurately read signal strength and direction regardless of how the buried transceiver is oriented in the snow.
Which avalanche app feature allows users to contribute real-time field conditions that improve forecast accuracy for others?
Answer: Crowdsourced observation submission
Crowdsourced observation tools let field users report snowpack tests, avalanche activity, and conditions, feeding data back to forecasters and other users.