Professor Danielle George presents episode of BBC documentary Horizon

18 Oct 2018

A team of world experts reveal the mysteries of an avalanche's destructive power by finding out what is going on at its very heart

Avalanches kill hundreds of people every year. Even in the UK 25 people have been killed by these forces of nature since the year 2000. But we know surprisingly little about them - why they happen or how they are able to produce destructive forces so powerful that they can flatten entire villages.

Equally disturbing is the fact that climate change means that the pattern of avalanches is changing. They are occurring in places where they have never happened before. Finding out where might be in danger in the future is of vital importance. Answering all these questions could help save lives. The experiment attempts to provide those answers.

The team of experts, gathered from all over the world, includes the programme's presenter Prof Danielle George. Her day job is studying space, here at the University, but she is also a specialist in the design of experiments. She is even getting personally involved. As part of an experiment to test out safety equipment, Danielle puts on the latest breathing device intended to help you survive being caught in an avalanche. She then agrees to be buried under half a tonne of snow.

The scientists hope to do what no one has ever managed before - to reveal the mysteries of an avalanche's destructive power by finding out what is going on at its very heart. 

The programme will broadcast tonight at 9pm on BBC 2 and will be available after broadcast on BBC iPlayer.