Final answer:
An avalanche is a sudden and rapid flow of snow down a slope, commonly occurring in mountainous areas like the Rocky Mountains. It can be triggered by various factors including weather, slope steepness, or human activity, and poses significant risks to both life and property.
Step-by-step explanation:
An avalanche is a rapid flow of snow down a sloping surface. Avalanches are typically triggered in a starting zone from a mechanical failure in the snowpack (slab avalanche) when the forces on the snow exceed its strength but sometimes only with gradually widening (loose snow avalanche). Once started, it can quickly grow by gathering more snow as it descends down the mountain slope. Avalanches are most common in the Rocky Mountain Region due to the geological and weather conditions that prevail there. In areas like the Rocky Mountains, avalanches can pose significant hazards to human life and property.
Avalanches can be driven by factors such as snowpack structure, slope steepness, weather, temperature, and human activity. These events can have devastating consequences, not only because of the immediate danger they pose to life and property but also due to the aftermath impact on the natural and built environments.