5.2.1 Overview
We've examined the factors that characterize snowpack in complex terrain. Now we'll see what happens when additional atmospheric events occur: a wind storm, a dust storm, another snow event, and a rainstorm, all of which lead to a layered snowpack. Remember that layers are a primary determinant of the stability of a snowpack in regard to avalanche formation. Multiple events can create snowpack layers of varying densities, which can lead to unstable conditions.
As in Scenario 1, we'll treat the four new precipitation events as if each one occurred several days after the initial snowfall rather than in consecutive order. This will let us examine the effect of each event on the same set of conditions. Then we'll skip ahead to March, when springtime melting begins.