NASA group to conduct snow census from the air
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029721
Nature : Although snowfall is important for replenishing an area’s water resources, it has proven difficult to accurately measure because of the variety of landscapes it covers, such as mountains, prairies, and tundra. To come up with better measurement and modeling techniques, NASA has been developing SnowEx , an experiment that uses aircraft equipped with radar, lidar, and other remote-sensing instruments to measure snow cover. Starting this fall, the sensors will be tested simultaneously over various sites in North America to see which combination is most effective. The project may expand beyond the continent in future years. The ultimate goal is to build a snow-sensing satellite fitted with the best combination of sensing technologies. Scientists want more accurate information on snowfall and the expected melt and runoff connected to climate change.
