NASA and Boise State University Team Up to Revolutionize Snow Water Equivalent Measurement on Grand Mesa

NASA and Boise State University snow scientists are testing new radar technology on the Grand Mesa in Colorado as part of NASA’s SnowEx campaign. The goal of the technology is to accurately measure snow water equivalent, which no single satellite-borne sensor has yet been able to do so. The amount of snow on a mountain range is crucial for water management, flood forecasting, hydro-power forecasting, avalanche-related problems, and more.

The team chose Grand Mesa as one of the 20 field sites to test the new radar technology. The mesa, which is the largest in the world, provided an ideal location for testing due to its high elevation of 11,000 feet, dry snow conditions, and relatively flat terrain. The team worked with an aircraft that took off from Grand Junction Regional Airport and used an instrument with radar sensors developed by the University of Massachusetts.

Snow melt-generated water supply is essential for around 70% of the western United States’ water supply. However, this supply is expected to decrease in the coming century. NASA noted that in recent years, Northern Hemisphere snow cover has been declining at a rate greater than Arctic sea ice. The team of scientists on Grand Mesa is working to improve snow measurement technology to better understand and manage the world’s water resources.