We tested how well fully data- and model-driven avalanche forecasts compare to human-made forecasts, which also integrate added context like field observations or model output. Using data from Switzerland over three winters, we found that models – even without this extra input – performed nearly as well. While human forecasts still have a slight edge, model predictions already offer reliable support for daily avalanche forecasting.

This study examines the timing and topics of newspaper coverage of droughts in England. Media attention correlated with drought-prone hydroclimatic conditions, particularly low precipitation and low groundwater levels, but also showed a seasonality bias, with more coverage in spring and summer, as exemplified by the 2022 summer drought. The findings reveal complex media dynamics in science communication, suggesting potential gaps in how droughts are framed by scientists versus the media.

Backcountry skiing is a popular form of recreation in Switzerland and worldwide, despite numerous avalanche accidents and fatalities that are recorded each year. There is a need for spatially explicit information on backcountry usage for effective risk estimations and avalanche forecast verification. We successfully used GPS tracks and online engagement data to model daily backcountry skiing base rates in the Swiss Alps based on a set of snow, weather, temporal and environmental variables.