This low temperature was furthermore complemented by an immense storm - although not being akatabaticwind, it still would have had a force enough to put us in an extremely hazardous situation. Katabatic winds are most commonly found blowing out from the large and elevated ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland. Yes, God bless. Theres nothing in it but its wonderfully comfortable and deflation causes an uncomfortable jolt. . . The group of two women and seven men were then overtaken by wind speeds up to at least 20 m/s an explosive scenario that erupted out of a rather calm and pleasant skiing tour. She is the second person having unexplainable and crushing chest wounds. 06.45. It's the most reasonable I've seen so far and you seem to know what you are talking about. You welcomed us in Yekaterinburg and you made it possible for us to reach the Uralswithout any setbackwhatsoever. Unable to fitinside the crowded and by snow blocked entrance, they eventually wandered out apathetic in the storm. This because - andas we shall returnt to below -thefractures on the bodies found in the ravine suggestpost-mortem evidence - and because a katabatic scenario (highwindwith extremecooling effect)was the main cause to the death ofthe 1959 group. TVC (Russian Documentary -Line of Defense) - The Dyatlov Pass - beyond a mountain of lies , 27 February 2019. Yes, the tent would have been better secured with the group inside, but the cooling effect under a gravity wind would eventually have killed them. Hoped for your comments on fire emergency in middle of the ordeal, and trying to add thoughts on U-shaped marks and bloody knuckles. This must have been a real tough attempt considering stun hands and feet. A hard time yes, with severe frostbites yes, but the only chance of survival. In connection todescribingthe birch saplingthat Igor Dyatlov wasleaning againstwhen found, atestimony made bythe rescue group,Atmanaki and Masslenikov, mentioned signsof strong wind. 18). The explanation for this lies in the fact that a criminal case should have the dates of the first and last documents filed in that very case-file. As aflight instructor since 1986, hehas been intensively involved in meteorology since the start. Hypothermia-related deaths are still among the most difficult cases for postmortem diagnosis in forensic medicine. I personally have always wondered why there were huge deliberate clumps of snow on top of the tent that wasn't in sync with the rest of the snowy landscape. But if we assume that the bivouac with the four lastly found of the group, had not collapsed (which I propose), then perhaps they would have made it during the night in order to retrieve their buried equipment in a less forceful weather. Photo: Richard Holmgren. Hypothermia means thatthebody core temperature sinks below 35 degrees Celsius. Presentingthese authors, I must add that I never understood TV documentaries, podcasts and other articles putting emphasizein cryptozoology and flying saucers as alternative explanations to the group's death. he understanding of the sudden strong winds that surprised and killed the people at Anaris, can be defined as a, 12) Looking down from the ridge near the Dyatlov pass over the slopes leading to the western area of the Auspiya valley. However, no matter the experience, people still die when performing extreme ventures like climbing and hiking. Their clothing was sufficient, but the sudden compellingforce at Anariswas far greater. The question is difficult to answer with the various reports at hand. These rescuers belonged to the Slobtsov group. What they didnt anticipate during the evening of February 1st, was that a moderate windwith stronger gusts could rather swiftly turn into 25 m/s or even much above that. Leather andcordsare extremely stiffbecause of the cold andyou need to do this with your bare hands. SR P1 Vetenskapsradion Historia med Tobias Svanelid - "Ny teori och rapportom mystiska Dyatlovolyckan 1959" (intervju med Richard Holmgren) 4 februari 2020. frn kl. He argues that themultiple rib fractures found on the corpses of Zolotarev and Dubinina are the result of post-mortem cracking of bones due to excessive pressure in the chest. Yes indeed, the skis were found sticking up in the snow and this have also been an indication that it couldnt have been an avalanche or a snow slide. However, the severe injuries found on the last four recovered bodies should in the case of akatabatic event, be tied to other circumstantial evidence - such as pressure from a collapsed snow shelter and natural decomposition due to three months of exposure in the prevailing environment. The entire near-surface wind field over Antarctica is largely determined by the katabatic winds, particularly outside the summer season, except in coastal regions when storms may impose their own wind field. It is very hard to move forward with facts at this stage, since much of the material is contradictory and hard to fact-check due to the long time that passed. According to the groups dressing sequences and the use of Doroshenkos and Krivonischenkos clothing, we must assume that they died first. There are, however, few experimental or model studies which consider the effect of blowing snow on the katabatic wind, although both blowing snow and katabatic wind have been independently and intensively studied Therefore I would like to make a statementto the contrary - that, if the weather would have been calm, then any appearing and suddenly disappearing footprintswould really have posed a problem. I think these actionsareimportant, because many would argue that fleeing from the tent and warmequipmentin such conditions,would mean certain death. Not to do so is false science because we are only trying to explain with only what we know and to do so would make us go round and round in circles all the time . On the large sloping glaciers in the Antarctic and Greenland, the Coriolis force becomes important and downslope flows are not pure katabatic winds [e.g., Kottmeier, In the search for thesince long deceased, we knowthat the search teamhit quite hard when pushing through the deep snow of the ravine. What I'm trying to say here,is not that Ias an archaeologist, believe that Noah's ark lies on top of Mt Ararat - but that we with insight in later and local cultures, yes - even those that are two to three thousand years old can understand whystories involvingSodom, Aaron and Noa were important for the human intellect and became part of the narrative. 17.00, Aftonbladet (Plus) Expedition p jakt efter det legendariska mysteriets lsning /. Any body of water near high mountains may be subject to such winds. But due to the dramatic situation, they must have had to decide in an instance. The theory is based on theexperiences from our Dyatlov Pass expedition during Jan/Feb 2019 and the factual evidence of an accident that occured attheAnaris mountains in Sweden 1978. Photo: Richard Holmgren, hat happens next on the slope could perhaps be described as a rumbling noise of a wind rapidly escalating from above (northwest). I had the perfect occasion to study this long gnawing question of mine during our stay on the slope. One of theseUPI-students, Yuri Koptelov, reported footprints as if people were positioned shoulder to shoulder. The latter is far more dangerous, I gather. hat thenabout the four bodies found in the ravine (the collapsed bivouac)? According to estimates in 1959, the temperature that the Dyatlov group experienced in the late afternoon and in the evening on the first of February, was between minus 25 and 30 degrees Celsius. In our expedition we therefore focused on investigating things that could be measured. The same is to say about Dubinina, laying close but in a different angle. Even though the Dyatlov accident could be considered somewhatrecent for an archaeological undertaking - notthe least in the absence offield artefacts- thehistorical event could perhaps beunderstood through indirectartefacts and other circumstantial evidence such as being part of legend making. Photo: Richard Holmgren, he new theory to the causes of the accident at the Dyatlovpass in 1959, put forward below, assumes that the reader is already acquainted with the story at large,the events in the pass, its various theories, group compositionand other details. It is important to note though, that as time passed,irrational behavior should be expected. Not all downslope winds are katabatic. Gnter Wolf explains the basis for katabatic winds in the, (Extra material from theSwedish documentary -. During the night the slopes get cooled and the dense air descends into the valley as the mountain wind. WebThe term katabatic (sometimes spelled catabatic) comes from the Greek katabasis, meaning descending and is the name used to refer to a drainage wind where high-density air flows downhill and into a plain, plateau or body of water. Katabatic Winds Unlike anabatic wind which is an upslope wind, katabatic winds are downslope winds. The cooling effect was then around minus 50 degrees Celsius (-58 degrees Fahrenheit). Vox Media - "Two theories for an unsolved Soviet mystery", (intervju med Richard Holmgren om katabatiska vind-teorin samt med Johan Gaume och Alexander M. Puzrin om snflaksteorin),5 April 2021. Your experience and theory makes better sense than any I have read thus far. (22)What thenabout the four bodies found in the ravine (the collapsed bivouac)? The stone belt below the tent would even have had the potential to cause fractures and open wounds. you are serene . Thank you so much for your investigative journalism. Ill do my best - have lenience. You and your group are brilliant! n the case of the Dyatlov group and as indicated, a flashlight was left to shine on top of the snow pile likely in order for the group to reposess the tent as soon as the sudden and chaotic situationgot under control. The explanation for this lies in the fact that a criminal case should have the dates of the first and last documents filed in that very case-file. This is not a wise choice for creating a suitable sleeping surface, but vital to succumb impending winds from above. when Georgy took 3rd degree half leg burn(med. However, the loose snow in the ravine was devastating for the rigidity of the cavern. Water in bottles freezes quite fast, despite continuous movement and a cup of tea didnt always satisfy our needs in the same way. Johan - Compared to other wind regimes in the world, Antarctica is known for its katabatic wind regime which is actually driven by cold air, like opening a fridge and when you feel the cold air rushing over your feet, that's the same principle, the same mechanism that's actually governing Antarctic winds. The Swedish group were probably not nearly as fit as theRussian team of nine andwedont know if some in the Dyatlovgroup got sweaty. 06.45. Witha body temperature of around 30 degrees Celsius, most becomeunconscious. In the middle of this scenario stood a very vulnerable tent. They met our anticipations greatly and provided us with tent, stove and other larger camping equipment but most of all they found our hearts through their great strength and extremely joyful humor and spirit. In Sweden the tragedy which killed eight people,is often referred to as the Anarisolyckan, which in Swedish can be translated to the accident at Anaris. Many thanks to myexpedition partner Andreas Liljegren, for input, for sober ideas and for awakening thoughts. at each end of the tent still upright as well? Periodically the strong flow of water undermines the loose sand bed under their roots. First of all i am glad i found your report and expedition on this case, as my grandpa always used to tell me stories about the Dyatlov Pass Incident. I would rather suggest that a bivouac housing the four people, collapsed and trapped them inside. The pedestal prints istheresult of afoot creating a harder surfuce - this throughthecompressing power from the body weight, where icywind later preserved a raisedimprint. The shelter that was only 0,8 meters in depth (c. 2.5 feet), had its top cover repeatedly blown off. This is however not a case of whats ante- or postmortem, but rather a result of wishful thinking for sinister minds. Did you sleep in full clothing and boots? Kudos to a great production team for presenting our effort in this thrilling manner - not the least for being cartoonized, which really felt awarding. As aflight instructor since 1986, hehas been intensively involved in meteorology since the start. They were likewise eager to experience parts of the Auspiya route and camping at the specific places of the Dyatlov group, such as the slope of Kholat Syakhl. Secondly,the reason we went to the region during a week in early 2019 -the transition between January and February,was a kind of homage to the events of 1959 and the 60-yearanniversary of the groups passing. The winds on Kholat Syakhl are still strong, but seemingly under control. (17)After arriving to the forest and eventually into the area of the large Siberian cedartree, the winds would have still been very strong, but the best possible shelter for waiting out the ordeal away from the slope. In the end - exhausted and looking for a last solution, perhaps theytried toclimbthe cedarwith frozen limbs,trying to get a glimpse of the tent with its glowing flashlight. Now, any person that havent experienced falling winds, would probably argue that no wind in the world can blow up this fast and with such a great force -that there would at leastbetime to put on clothes and/or shoes. More to come later. In all - this plan was probably insufficient but we hoped that any katabatic scenario or similar explosive event was kind enough not to repeat itself this particular night. The buildup of high density cold air over the ice sheets and the elevation of the ice sheets brings into play enormous gravitational energy. [2] A katabatic wind is a downslope flow driven by gravity and pressure gradient forces on a cold sloping surface, which is typically cooled by a negative radiation balance. The presence of katabatic winds is dependent on radiative cooling of the ice slopes. We should remember though that she had Krivonischenkos trousers wrapped around her feet. If it would have beeneasy, they wouldnthave been there in the first place. (2)So, what was it then that happened at Anaristhatunfortunate day of February the 24th in 1978? In the event of akatabatic wind, the Dyatlov team acted skillfully by shadowing the steps above. The strongest of these winds are usually found on drops surrounding mighty ice sheets, but can also occur over cooled mountain areas similar to the topography surrounding the Dyatlov pass. Any such wind as described above, would completely take anyoneoff guard,suchin the case of Anaris with its subsequentconsequences. Many thanks!! For the Dyatlovgroup the snow depth of their made bivouac(s) was well chosen considering the forceful conditions, but as we shall see, with another devastating effect. If the diary indeed belonged to Zolotaryov and a pen was present, itis in stark contrast to his massive chest wounds that many believe made him inoperable. Well, if a falling wind did occur from the west, as the snow pattern indicates (if the pattern is post pitching), then the skies must have made it. In the Auspiya valleythe temperature fluctuated between minus 20 and 35 degrees Celsius, with an average temperature of around minus 25 during the days and slightly belowminus 30 during the nights. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWQSeD3L4X0z3wiDwOSYBhg/videos, Thanks Ladislav, yes there are many possible explanations out there. What is important to know is also that katabatic winds (gravity winds) are much stronger along the slope but not necessarily that strong in the forest. WebKatabatic winds typically occur in the lowermost tens or a few hundreds of meters of the atmosphere; the height of the maximum wind speed is sometimes just a few meters [Barry,2008]butsometimesitis100200m[Argentinietal., 1996]. [3] In Greenland these winds are called piteraq and are most intense whenever a low pressure area approaches the coast. There's something that bothers me, though, which, perhaps, you can explain. The first stage of their skiing tour involved an undertaking uphill of about three kilometers - this over a ridge which made them sweaty and tired. Comment disappeared..U-shaped markings I think from black, frostbitten fingers clutching half frozen skin in area of pain as on Georgy's leg. We believed that this would ease the weight from the skis and thus prevent us from sinking too deep into the snow - which fortunatelyalso becamethe case. Assuch it doesnt necessarily differ that much from the relationship between the factualremains of the bishopric of Sodoma and the storyit was based on the legend of Sodom and Gomorrahthat is. Theabove-mentioned particularsshouldbeconsidered as decisive alternativesto any postulatedinjuriesassociated with events prior to the death of the group. Presumably thewind was already significantbut rather stable during the late afternoon and early evening. The group hastily tried to seek protection which they did in an immediate dug out ditch along the trail. Secondly,the reason we went to the region during a week in early 2019 -the transition between January and February,was a kind of homage to the events of 1959 and the 60-yearanniversary of the groups passing. SVT (svensk dokumentr p 58 min) "Mysteriet vid Djatlovpasset". Vetenskapsradion Historia - (direktrapport frn Dyatlovpasset), 5 februari 2019. Dyatlov Pass on Vox. ( YouTube linkhere). Thanks for your insightful comment. Even if the pathologist in the Dyatlov case only mentioneda red substance, we can presumethat it in fact was blood as a result of hypothermia. Photo: Unknown. I hope you don't mind that I have shared your piece with the FB group Dyatlov Pass Incident. And the eventin the Ural Mountainscan in my view perhaps be understood quite rationally. Photo: Richard Holmgren When the Anaris-group started the trip, they encountered an outside temperature of around minus 15 degrees Celsius (5 degrees Fahrenheit) with a wind speed of around 6 m/s. This particular day the wind accelerated and the physical situation of the group gradually affected their condition. Gnter Wolf, a German physicist have provided our hypothesis with much valuable information and calculations based on the pass. Such winds are sometimes also called fall winds; the spelling catabatic winds[1] Thanks Niklas! (18)When touching upon the footprints left in the snow, there are reports of prints mentioned by the first rescuers arriving to the abandoned tent. And the eventin the Ural Mountainscan in my view perhaps be understood quite rationally. Agree your Dyatlov theory, and add some common sense thoughts: fire started when shelters to rest 2 hrs, before occupation/extinguished in less than 90 min. ther than the issueof drinking water, the cold temperatures affected the food and the snacks in the backpacks. Perhaps the chocking experience of apotentialdeath trapcollapsing over theirfriends and with insufficient strength to help out, gave them only one last option - that of trying to get back to the tent. I only close jokingly comments or too much of the same thing from the same angle - this so that ideas can be equally represented. Lets see. The skiing really tears on your body physically when no tracks are present in the forest and because of the cold weather in general. Thus, this lead toan uneasyfeeling whencrawling out of the sleeping bag,having to put certaincold clothes on before themorning routines. The longcanvas of the Dyatlov tent would have started to flutter in an exceptionally violent and self-destructing way, much sothat the only way to save it would be to cut it open from the inside in order to rushoutside for measures of saving it. (24)One may alsostressanother problematic occurrence that is seldomraised. In some places prints are preserved and in some cases gone with the wind. Myself,working as an archaeologist and with the background already explained,I naturallycame to approachthe case through matters that were familiar to me. The snow on the tent might indeed explain the development during the night - but we shall see what more will be said. You are right and I will immediately correct this. interessante notare che anche tu condividi l'idea che sembrano aver fatto tutto il possibile per sopravvivere - in un modo professionale. Likewise, have our excavations on the Mountain of Aaron (the tomb of Aaronin the ancient city of Petra),brought us closer to the background of why the biblical stories of Moses and his brother Aaron were in fact placedhere. What they didnt anticipate during the evening of February 1st, was that a moderate windwith stronger gusts could rather swiftly turn into 25 m/s or even much above that. och Dagens Nyheterlrdag med Reportage om Djatlovexpeditionen (12 oktober 2019) Photos: Dyatlov Foundation / Richard Holmgren. Aftonbladet (Plus) Expedition p jakt efter det legendariska mysteriets lsning / Unlike the group in 1959 we had half of our equipment filled into individual sledges. "The Barber" has a local reputation for its coldness. YogiBlair! The conclusions presented here can obviously be broaden much further. SVT Nyheter (video och text) - Arkeologen: Drfr dog de i den mytomspunna expeditionen (film & text), 30 januari, 2021. The only really scientific base for my scenario, would be to present the prerequisites for the wind event. Usually everything should be accounted for in any pathologyreport, but the description of her body shows that no difference to the type of wounds was made when analyzed. Thus, I believe that a rational approach is the best way to pay respect to the members of the group all of them personalities that likely wanted nothing else than letting us know how they might havespent their last hours in life. Thank you. (12)What happens next on the slope could perhaps be described as a rumbling noise of a wind rapidly escalating from above (northwest). This was caused by intravital acute toxic pulmonary edema, post-mortem freezing of the corpsesas well as excessive pressure in the abdominal cavity - this due to the decomposition of corpses and accumulation of putrefactive gases. If not - an excellent source of information is thecomprehensive website containingalmost everything surroundingtheDyatlov pass,found at dyatlovpass.com. So, basically, I agree with the idea that a sudden strong wind is the most probable main cause, I just think that a wind by itself can not make people leave "naked" the relative safety of an undestroyed tent in Siberia; something else had triggered the tragic events. Denselypacked snow is especially visible around Slobodin,surrounding himin finelayers. Not the least did the climbing itselfshare some of the problems one may encounter in theDyatlov pass. Theyre wrong. I repeat my supposition did on 3-26-2019 . The young men at the fire must have struggled hard to get a fire going, which wasalso evident from their unsuccessful attempts. Soon the temperature dropped even further, but the situation really turned devastating due to the sudden acceleration of the wind - this with wind speeds up toat least 20 m/s. I fully agree with your hypothesis. It is furthermore often stated that Lyudmila had blood inher stomachand that this would suggest that she was alive when her tongue was injured - or perhaps evenremoved by any ill-meaning force. It is based on our skiing to and stay on the pass in 2019 - and thetheory presented below. It is a wind that by gravity carries air of higher density down a slope. Katabatic winds can rush down elevated slopes at hurricane speeds, but most are not that intense and many are 10 knots (18km/h) or less. Dagens Nyheter - Svensk expedition i Djatlovs fotspr exakt 60 r efter desnatten (10 oktober 2019). Even if the pathologist in the Dyatlov case only mentioneda red substance, we can presumethat it in fact was blood as a result of hypothermia. When the air is set in motion and begins to run down along a gradient, very strongwind speeds can occur. However, the sacks and bags were never used since they failed to open any of their backpacks alongside an overall chaotic situation. Since the tent was fixedwith ropesattaced toski poles and a pair of standing skis,rather than being anchored into the ground orheavy stones, we can assume that the wind at the time of pitching wasnt too strong. 20) Many thanks to Vladimir and Vladislav for their great hospitality when repacking in the village of Vizhay. But I agree with you, the things they did in the forest after leaving the tent is hard, but in my opinion not impossible. Of course the local and indigenous people - the Mansi - which lifestyle and history also fascinates me, hadto be put asidein order to avoid a detourfrom the main subject. 14.20 Before getting to theposition on the mountain we also wanted, likewise to the group in 1959, tryto ski throughthe Auspiya valley inpristine snow and to set up camps in the estimated positions of 1959. If only they had dug 15 meters further away they would have found a sufficient snow depth of about five meters. kl. Since they didnt use sleeping bags, we can just speculate in why the last members of the group tried to reach back to the tent. Thank you for this write up and for the time abd efforts you all went through to offer a logical theory! Thekatabaticcomponent of myabove theory and our 2019expedition,is also incorporatedasan important later phase considerationin a recentscientificSwiss study;"Mechanisms of slab avalanche release and impact in the Dyatlov Pass incident in 1959"by Johan Gaume andAlexander M. Puzrin (2021). Is there any eng/fin read on 1978 accident? Itis therefore reasonable to assume that more than one body was affected. In a photograph from 1959, Slobodin can be seen posing with a burntjacket. If one can talk of any advantage regarding a rolling gravity wind, is that it is powerful but rather stable without gusts. Lnk: https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/1231912 Obviously it was left to close to their stove. A Swedish wind record is for example 81 m/s which was documented on December 20, 1992 at theTarfalaresearch station. . This site is very informative and I would and will recommend it to any of my colleagues wishing to also study this magnificent case. In experiencing the same preconditions, we hoped to get a sober idea of what the group went throughbefore their last night. Only one of them survived since he was in constant movement and wasfortunate to be saved by two persons later on - although losing all his extremities. What is important to realize regarding falling winds, is that theyappear quickly as opposed to a storm. Oh, thanks Juna! Was perchance thetent with its concealed equipmentstill in position or blown away? The preserved footprints on the slope are in largea bit peculiar, but so is agravitywind. Well,the one who reads theconcluding theory below,ofwhat I reallythink killed the group, he or she will understand that we really had a big reason to be frightened. This, unless itaccidentlyteared itself apartby any item pushed against the canvas to keep it stretched. Great work. You should definitely write a novel because of all this, I think that it would be inspirational to people that take so many angles at looking into mysteries and conspiracies. Vox Media - "Two theories for an unsolved Soviet mystery", (intervju med Richard Holmgren om katabatiska vind-teorin samt med Johan Gaume och Alexander M. Puzrin om snflaksteorin),5 April 2021.