Pal Hermansen / Avalanche on Gullemot (Uria aalge) nesting cliff on first day birds return to breed. Finnmark, Norway. March.

David Pattyn / Remains from avalanches after the snow has melted with broken trees and masses of rocky debris remaining, Valsavarenche, Gran Paradiso National Park, Aosta Valley, Italy

David Pattyn / Snow masses from avalanches remaining well into spring in Valsavarenche after a winter with huge destructive avalanches, Valsavarenche, Gran Paradiso National Park, Aosta Valley, Italy

David Pattyn / Trees scattered after an avalanche in a winter landscape, Valsavarenche, Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy. January

Christophe Courteau / Sign about high risk of avalanches in Valloire Ski Resort, Dept. of Savoie in the French Alps. Maurienne Valley. Savoie. France.

Christophe Courteau / Avalanche in the mountains of Torres Del Paine National Park, Southern Patagonia, Chile.

Cyril Ruoso / Avalanche rolling down mountain, Llaca glacier surrounding Cordillera Blanca Mountain Range, Andes, Huscaran National Park, Peru

David Pattyn / Avalanche coming down a steep mountain side. Gran Paradiso National Park, Italy, November.

Brent Stephenson / Avalanche on the mountainside above Neko Harbour, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, January 2012.

Gavin Hellier / Avalanche prevention fences, St Anton am Arlberg, Tirol, Austria, 2008

Gavin Hellier / Avalanche prevention fences, St Anton am Arlberg, Tirol, Austria, 2008

Andy Rouse / Coastal mountains after avalanche, Fournier Bay, Antarctica, February 2006