In a NASA-led experiment called SnowEx, the search is on for more efficient ways to measure how much water is locked up in Colorado’s mountains.
Instrumental aircraft will be flying over the Colorado high country throughout the month of March to measure how much water is locked up in the mountains. The experiment SnowEx will afford NASA scientists the ability to overcome obstacles, such as how to analyze snow hidden underneath forests. “It would be, I would say, a monumental leap in our ability to forecast water supply if we had this kind of information,” said Noah Molotch, a member of the team for SnowEx. One-sixth of the world’s population gets its fresh water supply from melted snow that runs into waterways. This experiment would be a vital step to sustain a large portion of the global population’s water supply. Not only does melted snow provide water supply, but it also has consequences for society. Floods and droughts can occur when water is scarce. The key is to predict how much water will melt out of the mountains each spring to combat those consequences.
“At times during the winter, some snow melts, so water will flow through the interior of the snowbank, distorting or absorbing signals from remote sensors.” -Ed Kim, NASA researcher
In order for SnowEx to measure the various layers of snow that occur from successive storms and from melted snow, they have multiple types of instruments with different sensing techniques. Two of the sensors measure the depth of the snow: Radar and LIDAR. LIDAR, which stands for light detection and ranging, uses laser pulses to measure distance. Four additional sensors will measure snow density, and two thermal infrared sensors will measure the snow’s temperature. The aircraft will take the instruments and sensors over two areas of western Colorado, Grand Mesa and Senator Beck Basin. To verify the accuracy of the instruments, ground teams will analyze the snow. To predict snow runoff, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service operates the Snow Telemetry Network (SNOTEL). More than 800 SNOTEL stations across the West will produce daily reports and maps on the current snowfall.
The use of satellite images will show the amount of snow and how much dust is on the snow. If the dusty snow is darker, then it will absorb more heat causing it to melt faster. This data from satellites would grant them information to use as guidance for future monitoring and measuring of water runoff. SnowEx will take us one step closer to sustaining a large part of the world’s water supply. What are your thoughts on this experiment? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.