NASA snow study in Colorado to aid satellite development

NASA uses a passive microwave to figure out how much natural microwave radiation is blocked by the snow.

Courtesy of NASA

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NASA uses a passive microwave to figure out how much natural microwave radiation is blocked by the snow.

Courtesy of NASA

Researchers collect data on the ground from instruments attached to snowmobiles and from aircraft for the five-year SnowEx study being conducted by NASA.

Courtesy of NASA

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Researchers collect data on the ground from instruments attached to snowmobiles and from aircraft for the five-year SnowEx study being conducted by NASA.

Courtesy of NASA

Researchers collect snow measurements from aircraft to compare to data gathered on the ground with the intent of developing a multi-sensor satellite to observe snowfall critical for water management.

Courtesy of NASA

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Researchers collect snow measurements from aircraft to compare to data gathered on the ground with the intent of developing a multi-sensor satellite to observe snowfall critical for water management.

Courtesy of NASA

NASA’s three-week snow study in western Colorado in February attracted volunteers throughout the snow research community, including people from Canada, Europe and the U.S.

Courtesy of NASA

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NASA’s three-week snow study in western Colorado in February attracted volunteers throughout the snow research community, including people from Canada, Europe and the U.S.

Courtesy of NASA

NASA uses a passive microwave to figure out how much natural microwave radiation is blocked by the snow as part of its SnowEx study in Colorado. Photo courtesy of NASA

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NASA uses a passive microwave to figure out how much natural microwave radiation is blocked by the snow as part of its SnowEx study in Colorado. Photo courtesy of NASA

NASA researchers this month conduct snow studies in Grand Mesa and Senator Beck Basin near Red Mountain Pass in an effort to develop ways to accurately observe and measure snow from satellites. Photo courtesy of NASA

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NASA researchers this month conduct snow studies in Grand Mesa and Senator Beck Basin near Red Mountain Pass in an effort to develop ways to accurately observe and measure snow from satellites. Photo courtesy of NASA

NASA brought instruments to measure depth, density, temperature and reflectiveness of snow on a three-week expedition to Colorado this month. Scientists want to develop a satellite that can observe snow through obstacles such as forest canopies. Photo courtesy of NASA

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NASA brought instruments to measure depth, density, temperature and reflectiveness of snow on a three-week expedition to Colorado this month. Scientists want to develop a satellite that can observe snow through obstacles such as forest canopies. Photo courtesy of NASA

NASA’s three-week snow study in western Colorado in February attracts volunteers throughout the snow research community, including people from Canada, Europe and the U.S. Photo courtesy of NASA

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NASA’s three-week snow study in western Colorado in February attracts volunteers throughout the snow research community, including people from Canada, Europe and the U.S. Photo courtesy of NASA

Researchers collect data on the ground, from instruments attached to snowmobiles, and from aircraft for NASA’s SnowEx study. Photo courtesy of NASA

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Researchers collect data on the ground, from instruments attached to snowmobiles, and from aircraft for NASA’s SnowEx study. Photo courtesy of NASA

Researchers collect snow measurements on the ground and will compare the data to aerial observations with the intent of developing a multi-sensor satellite to observe snow for water management. Photo courtesy of NASA

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Researchers collect snow measurements on the ground and will compare the data to aerial observations with the intent of developing a multi-sensor satellite to observe snow for water management. Photo courtesy of NASA

Radar, LIDAR and special imagers to measure how fast snow will melt are among the equipment NASA researchers use over a three-week field study in the Silverton and Grand Mesa areas. Photo courtesy of NASA

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Radar, LIDAR and special imagers to measure how fast snow will melt are among the equipment NASA researchers use over a three-week field study in the Silverton and Grand Mesa areas. Photo courtesy of NASA

Volunteers withstand all types of weather this month during a snow study headed by NASA at sites near Grand Mesa and Silverton. Researchers are collecting data on snow depth, temperature, reflectiveness and water content. Photo courtesy of NASA

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Volunteers withstand all types of weather this month during a snow study headed by NASA at sites near Grand Mesa and Silverton. Researchers are collecting data on snow depth, temperature, reflectiveness and water content. Photo courtesy of NASA

NASA researchers dig snow pits to measure depth during a three-week study at sites near Grand Mesa and Silverton. NASA intends to develop a multi-sensor satellite to help scientists forecast water content. Photo courtesy of NASA

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NASA researchers dig snow pits to measure depth during a three-week study at sites near Grand Mesa and Silverton. NASA intends to develop a multi-sensor satellite to help scientists forecast water content. Photo courtesy of NASA

About 50 researchers from the U.S., Canada and Europe make a trip to Colorado for three weeks in February to study snow with NASA. Photo courtesy of NASA

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About 50 researchers from the U.S., Canada and Europe make a trip to Colorado for three weeks in February to study snow with NASA. Photo courtesy of NASA

Researchers work in a snow pit in western Colorado, taking measurements as part of NASA’s five-year SnowEx study. Photo courtesy of NASA

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Researchers work in a snow pit in western Colorado, taking measurements as part of NASA’s five-year SnowEx study. Photo courtesy of NASA

Snowmobiles help researchers take measurements in western Colorado as part of a NASA study aimed at developing satellite technology that can help water managers. Photo courtesy of NASA

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Snowmobiles help researchers take measurements in western Colorado as part of a NASA study aimed at developing satellite technology that can help water managers. Photo courtesy of NASA

NASA’s three-week field study of snow conditions in the Silverton and Grand Mesa areas ends Saturday, after which scientists will analyze the data in an effort to develop satellites to provide snow observation data critical to water management.

On Tuesday, NASA deployed three aircraft and had about 50 researchers on the ground for the last days of data collection.

“It takes some time after we get out of the field to fully analyze the data,” said Ed Kim, a physical scientist at NASA. “We don’t have any significant findings this early. We’re always at the mercy of whatever weather we happen to get, and we know warm, wet weather has impacted the project. We’ll find out what that impact is.”

People throughout the snow research community from Canada, Europe and the U.S. volunteered their time for the effort. Researchers on the ground spent the past three weeks taking measurements, including the variation of snow depth, and digging snow pits to study the vertical structure and composition of snow layers from the surface to the ground. The team also mounted sensors to snowmobiles. The data collected on the ground will be compared to the accuracy of measurements taken from aircraft.

“That’s really critical to understand what airborne sensors are seeing,” Kim said.

Researchers used a combination of instruments to collect data on the snow, including radar and LIDAR, which stands for light detection and ranging, to measure snow depth and density, thermal infrared sensors to gauge temperature, and a hyperspectral imager and multispectral imager to measure how much sunlight the snow reflects and how fast it consequently will melt. NASA also used a passive microwave, which can gauge how much natural microwave radiation is blocked by snow.

NASA’s goal is to use the research to develop a multi-sensor satellite to study snow and predict water content, which would be a watershed invention for science. Snow impacts drinking water, agriculture and industry across the globe, yet there is no comprehensive instrument to measure it. SnowEx is sponsored by the Terrestrial Hydrology Program at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C., and managed by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland.

NASA’s Colorado expedition marks the first of a five-year snow study called SnowEx. Kim said NASA will spend the second year analyzing the data collected this month in the Senator Beck Basin, just north of Red Mountain Pass, and Grand Mesa, east of Grand Junction, as well as making plans for the final three years of the study.

Kim said NASA’s conclusions over the next year from this winter’s study will determine the next steps.

The economic value of reliable snow data, Kim said, is estimated in the billions in the U.S.

The project’s first year cost about $4.5 million, and it is unclear what will be spent in the next four.

NASA selected the Senator Beck Basin near Silverton and the Grand Mesa area to conduct research because the two areas offer varied terrain and snow conditions. Moreover, scientists want to develop an instrument that can observe snow hidden in forested areas.

The scientists visited the two Colorado sites last fall to scope the study area and install temporary weather stations.

jpace@durangoherald.com