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A 3-D oblique view of terrain near Aspen, CO from April 7, 2019, showing snow depths mapped by the Airborne Snow Observatory. The Maroon Bells are visible at top right, Highland Bowl and Aspen Highlands Ski Area at center-right, and the enormous avalanche in the 5 Fingers avalanche path clearly visible at center. (Jeff Deems, Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.)
Avalanche forecasting has come a long way since the 1950s, when forecasters relied solely on weather to predict when and where snow might slide. But it still requires scientists skiing and digging into the snowpack. That’s changing as satellites, aircraft-mounted sensors and ground-based remote monitoring fast-track the evolution of snow science, giving experts comprehensive insight into the uncanny nature of avalanches.
Can NASA satellites help monitor snowpack across the American Southwest?
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Can NASA satellites help monitor snowpack across the American Southwest? Crews on the ground check snow depth to compare with the findings of a NASA project that seeks to monitor snowpack by satellite. Courtesy of Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies
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SILVERTON –
Understanding how much snowpack lies in the mountains of the American Southwest is critical for communities in the region, and an unsung project led by NASA may bring the next great technological advancement in the field.