Dr. Benjamin Reuter
Function
Aushilfe / Wiss. Mitarbeiter
WSL Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF
Flüelastrasse 11
7260 Davos Dorf
Site
Davos Da
Scientific Education
PhD, ETH Zurich
MSc Meteorology and Geophysics, University of Innsbruck
BSc Physics, Leipzig University and University of Innsbruck
Research Interests
Snowpack stability
Fracture mechanics
Meteorological drivers
Avalanche Education
Practical solutions to assess snowpack stability
Dissertation topic
Relating spatial patterns of snow stability to meterological drivers - the key to forecasting spatial stability variations
Short CV
since 2013 Mountain Guide (IFMGA)
2016 - now Post-Doc on snow instability and avalanche release processes
2011 - 2015 Dissertation at ETH Zurich and SLF Davos
2006 - 2010 studies at University of Innsbruck
2004 - 2006 studies at Leipzig University
FURTHER INFORMATION
Publications WSL
Scientific publication article peer reviewed
Schweizer, J.; Mitterer, C.; Techel, F.; Stoffel, A.; Reuter, B., 2020: On the relation between avalanche occurrence and avalanche danger level. Cryosphere, 14, 2: 737-750. doi: 10.5194/tc-14-737-2020
Reuter, B.; Proksch, M.; Löwe, H.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Schweizer, J., 2019: Comparing measurements of snow mechanical properties relevant for slab avalanche release. Journal of Glaciology, 65, 249: 55-67. doi: 10.1017/jog.2018.93
Reuter, B.; Schweizer, J., 2018: Describing snow instability by failure initiation, crack propagation, and slab tensile support. Geophysical Research Letters, 45, 14: 7019-7027. doi: 10.1029/2018GL078069
Strapazzon, G.; Paal, P.; Schweizer, J.; Falk, M.; Reuter, B.; Schenk, K.; Gatterer, H.; Grasegger, K.; Dal Cappello, T.; Malacrida, S.; Riess, L.; Brugger, H., 2017: Effects of snow properties on humans breathing into an artificial air pocket - an experimental field study. Scientific Reports, 7, 1: 17675 (12 pp.). doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-17960-4
Gaume, J.; Reuter, B., 2017: Assessing snow instability in skier-triggered snow slab avalanches by combining failure initiation and crack propagation. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 144: 6-15. doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2017.05.011
Van Herwijnen, A.; Gaume, J.; Bair, E.H.; Reuter, B.; Birkeland, K.W.; Schweizer, J., 2016: Estimating the effective elastic modulus and specific fracture energy of snowpack layers from field experiments. Journal of Glaciology, 62, 236: 997-1007. doi: 10.1017/jog.2016.90
Reuter, B.; Richter, B.; Schweizer, J., 2016: Snow instability patterns at the scale of a small basin. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 121, 2: 257-282. doi: 10.1002/2015JF003700
Schweizer, J.; Reuter, B.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Richter, B.; Gaume, J., 2016: Temporal evolution of crack propagation propensity in snow in relation to slab and weak layer properties. Cryosphere, 10, 6: 2637-2653. doi: 10.5194/tc-10-2637-2016
Schweizer, J.; Reuter, B., 2015: A new index combining weak layer and slab properties for snow instability prediction. Natural Hazards and Earth System Science, 15, 1: 109-118. doi: 10.5194/nhess-15-109-2015
Reuter, B.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Veitinger, J.; Schweizer, J., 2015: Relating simple drivers to snow instability. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 120: 168-178. doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2015.06.016
Reuter, B.; Schweizer, J.; Van Herwijnen, A., 2015: A process-based approach to estimate point snow instability. Cryosphere, 9, 3: 837-847. doi: 10.5194/tc-9-837-2015
Gaume, J.; Schweizer, J.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Chambon, G.; Reuter, B.; Eckert, N.; Naaim, M., 2014: Evaluation of slope stability with respect to snowpack spatial variability. Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, 119, 9: 1783-1799. doi: 10.1002/2014JF003193
Reuter, B.; Schweizer, J., 2012: The effect of surface warming on slab stiffness and the fracture behavior of snow. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 83-84: 30-36. doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2012.06.001
Schweizer, J.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Reuter, B., 2011: Measurements of weak layer fracture energy. Cold Regions Science and Technology, 69, 2-3: 139-144. doi: 10.1016/j.coldregions.2011.06.004
Further scientific publications
Reuter, B.; Mitterer, C.; Bellaire, S., 2020: Warnsignal Klima: Die Lawinengefahr im Klimawandel. In: Lozán, J.L.; Breckle, Siegmar-W.; Escher-Vetter, H.; Grassl, H.; Kasang, D.; Paul, F.; Schickhoff, U. (eds), 2020: Warnsignal Klima: Hochgebirge im Wandel. Wissenschaftliche Fakten. Hamburg, Wissenschaftliche Auswertungen. 316-323.
Reuter, B.; Bellaire, S., 2018: On combining snow cover and snow instability modelling. In: 2018: International snow science workshop proceedings 2018. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2018, Innsbruck. 949-953.
Reuter, B.; Semmel, C., 2018: Backcountry risk assessment based on terrain and snowpack characteristics. In: 2018: International snow science workshop proceedings 2018. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2018, Innsbruck. 1632-1634.
Reuter, B.; Calonne, N.; Adams, E., 2018: Measuring snow mechanical properties typical of storm snow instabilities. In: 2018: International snow science workshop proceedings 2018. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2018, Innsbruck. 866-870.
Gatterer, H.; Strapazzon, G.; Dal Cappello, T.; Schenk, K.; Paal, P.; Falk, M.; Malacrida, S.; Reuter, B.; Schweizer, J.; Brugger, H., 2018: The influence of snow physical properties on humans breathing into an artificial air pocket. In: 2018: International snow science workshop proceedings 2018. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2018, Innsbruck. 1414-1416.
Birkeland, K.W.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Reuter, B.; Bergfeld, B., 2018: Snow stabilization following storms: field experiments and modelling of temporal changes in snow mechanical properties following loading. In: 2018: International snow science workshop proceedings 2018. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2018, Innsbruck. 861-865.
Gaume, J.; Reuter, B.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Schweizer, J., 2016: A new crack propagation criterion for skier-triggered snow slab avalanches. In: 2016: International snow science workshop proceedings 2016. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2016, Breckenridge, CO, USA, October 2-7, 2016. 484-491.
Van Herwijnen, A.; Bair, E.H.; Birkeland, K.W.; Reuter, B.; Simenhois, R.; Jamieson, B.; Schweizer, J., 2016: Measuring the mechanical properties of snow relevant for dry-snow slab avalanche release using particle tracking velocimetry. In: 2016: International snow science workshop proceedings 2016. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2016, Breckenridge, CO, USA, October 2-7, 2016. 397-404.
Reuter, B.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Schweizer, J., 2016: Observer independent measures of snow instability. In: 2016: International snow science workshop proceedings 2016. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2016, Breckenridge, CO, USA, October 2-7, 2016. 390-396.
Reuter, B.; Schweizer, J., 2016: Variations of snow instability seen from a bird's eye. In: 2016: International snow science workshop proceedings 2016. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2016, Breckenridge, CO, USA, October 2-7, 2016. 262-165.
Schweizer, J.; Reuter, B.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Gaume, J., 2016: Avalance release 101. In: 2016: International snow science workshop proceedings 2016. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2016, Breckenridge, CO, USA, October 2-7, 2016. 1-11.
Reuter, B.; Schweizer, J.; Van Herwijnen, A., 2014: Simple drivers of snow instability. In: 2014: International snow science workshop proceedings 2014. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2014, Banff, AB, Canada, September 29 - October 3, 2014. 716-721.
Harvey, S.; Reuter, B.; Mitterer, C., 2014: Cool tools - white risk offering novel learning aids. In: 2014: International snow science workshop proceedings 2014. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2014, Banff, AB, Canada, September 29 - October 3, 2014. 324-329.
Proksch, M.; Reuter, B.; Löwe, H.; Schweizer, J.; Schneebeli, M., 2014: Quantitative snow stratigraphy and stability derived from high-resolution penetrometry. In: 2014: International snow science workshop proceedings 2014. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2014, Banff, AB, Canada, September 29 - October 3, 2014. 196-201.
Schweizer, J.; Reuter, B.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Gauthier, D.; Jamieson, J.B., 2014: On how the tensile strength of the slab affects crack propagation propensity. In: 2014: International snow science workshop proceedings 2014. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2014, Banff, AB, Canada, September 29 - October 3, 2014. 164-168.
Reuter, B.; Proksch, M.; Loewe, H.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Schweizer, J., 2013: On how to measure snow mechanical properties relevant to slab avalanche release. In: Naaim-Bouvet, F.; Durand, Y.; Lambert, R. (eds), 2013: International snow science workshop proceedings 2013. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2013, Grenoble - Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France, October 7-11, 2013. 7-11.
Reuter, B.; Schweizer, J., 2013: Linking weather conditions to snow property variations. In: Naaim-Bouvet, F.; Durand, Y.; Lambert, R. (eds), 2013: International snow science workshop proceedings 2013. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2013, Grenoble - Chamonix Mont-Blanc, France, October 7-11, 2013. 61-64.
Reuter, B.; Schweizer, J., 2012: The influence of near-surface warming on slab stiffness and crack propagation propensity. In: 2012: International snow science workshop proceedings 2012. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2012, Anchorage, AK, USA, September 16-21, 2012. 28-31.
Schweizer, J.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Reuter, B., 2010: Fracture energy of weak snowpack layers. In: 2010: International snow science workshop proceedings 2010. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2010, Squaw Valley, CA, USA, October 17-22, 2010. 720-723.
Reuter, B.; Schweizer, J., 2009: Avalanche triggering by sound: myth and truth. In: Schweizer, J.; Van Herwijnen, A. (eds), 2009: International snow science workshop proceedings 2009. International snow science workshop, ISSW 2009, Davos, Switzerland, September 27 - October 2, 2009. 330-333.
Magazine article and brochures
Reuter, B.; Semmel, C.; Mallon, A.; Chabot, D.; Birkeland, K.; Schweizer, J., 2021: An intuitive path to D×C-M=R. Avalanche risk management. Avalanche Review, 39, 4: 36-38.
Reuter, B.; Mallon, A., 2020: Gestion du risque en terrain avalancheux, d'hier à aujourd'hui. Neige et avalanches, 12-17.
Reuter, B.; Semmel, C.; Mallon, A.; Schweizer, J., 2020: Risikomanagement da capo. bergundsteigen, 48-55.
Reuter, B.; Van Herwijnen, A.; Schweizer, J., 2016: Untangling slab avalanche release. Avalanche Journal, 111: 44-47.
Schweizer, J.; Reuter, B., 2013: Schlüsselfaktor Gelände revisited. bergundsteigen, 37-41.
Schweizer, J.; Jamieson, B.; Reuter, B., 2013: How surface warming affects dry-snow instability. Avalanche Review, 31, 3: 25 (2 pp.).