A rumble, a deluge of snow, and then silence — avalanches, while deadly, often leave little lasting evidence of their presence. In a groundbreaking study, researchers have delved into tree rings to unveil the historical records of avalanches.
Examining the wood of numerous pine trees surrounding a ski resort in Bulgaria, a dedicated team of scientists discovered traces of numerous significant avalanches that have struck the region over a span of two centuries. The insights gained from these findings can play a crucial role in enhancing risk management strategies and optimizing land-use planning. The remarkable research was published in the esteemed journal Dendrochronologia in June.
Exploring the Pirin Mountains’ Avalanche History
The Pirin Mountains in the southwest of Bulgaria boast ancient pine and fir forests. These majestic trees, some of which have stood for centuries, exhibit telltale signs of past avalanches such as tilted trunks and visible scars like broken branches.
According to Momchil Panayotov, a distinguished dendrochronologist at the University of Forestry in Sofia, Bulgaria and one of the study’s authors, these signs hint at the impact of avalanches on the trees. The force of cascading snow can inflict severe damage on large trees, possibly uprooting them entirely. However, determining the precise timing of these avalanche events is crucial for reconstructing their historical occurrences.
Deciphering Avalanche Records Through Tree Rings
To unravel the past avalanches in the Pirin Mountains, Dr. Panayotov and his colleague Nickolay Tsvetanov, also a dendrochronologist at the University of Forestry, turned to the intricate patterns found in tree rings. Dr. Panayotov explains that trees impacted by avalanches retain distinct markings in their rings, serving as silent witnesses to these natural disasters. “The survivors hold the key to the historical record,” he emphasizes.
