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Measuring Spatial Distribution of Snow Water Equivalent and Snow Albedo

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The two most critical properties for understanding snowmelt runoff and timing are the spatial and temporal distributions of snow water equivalent (SWE) and snow albedo. Despite their importance in controlling volume and timing of runoff, snowpack albedo and SWE are still largely unquantified in the US and not at all in most of the globe, leaving runoff models poorly constrained. NASA/JPL, in partnership with the California Department of Water Resources, has developed the Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO), an imaging spectrometer and scanning lidar system, to quantify SWE and snow albedo, generate unprecedented knowledge of snow properties for cutting edge cryospheric science, and provide complete, robust inputs to water management models and systems of the future.


Funding provided by NASA Terrestrial Hydrology, NASA Applied Sciences, and California Department of Water Resources


MAPS


SWE 2014 Slow-Motion

Albedo 2014 Slow-Motion

Instruments

NASA/JPL has created the Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO), a coupled imaging spectrometer and scanning lidar system. ASO uses the imaging spectrometer to quantify spectral albedo, broadband albedo, and radiative forcing by dust and black carbon in snow. The scanning lidar is used to determine snow depth against snow-free acquisitions and quantifies snow water equivalent when combined with in-situ constrained modeling of snow density.

Spectrometer
Imaging Spectrometer

Imaging Spectrometer

ASO uses an ITRES CASI-1500 imaging spectrometer, which captures imagery in 72 spectral bands from the visible to the near-Infrared. Ground pixel size is approximately 2m from a flight altitude of 15,000ft above ground level. This provides spectral albedo of the snow surface, which is used to determine the energy absorbed from incoming sunlight. This, combined with energy balance modeled from meteorological conditions, yields snowmelt rates.

LIDAR
LIDAR

LIDAR

ASO uses a Riegl Q1560 scanning lidar, which captures the surface topography with < 10 cm vertical accuracy. Depth is calculated by subtracting a summer “snow-free” dataset from each winter “snow-on” dataset. The accuracy of these data is dependent upon precise knowledge of the aircraft position during the measurements. An integrated Applanix Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and GPS provide aircraft attitude and position information, and this information is combined with error corrections from an existing network of GPS base stations at fixed locations near the survey area. This combined use of the IMU for high-speed attitude information, along with the differential GPS solution for absolute position, yields the sub-decimeter aircraft trajectory accuracy necessary for LiDAR snow depth measurements.

Media

NASA’s building new tools to manage water as climate dangers grow
MIT Technology Review - May 28, 2018
Water planners work to enhance snowpack data
AgAlert - May 16, 2018
How NASA, Lasers And New Technology Help Measure California’s Snowpack With Exceptional Accuracy
Capital Public Radio - March 8, 2018
No Snow Left? Aerial Surveys Show Eight Percent Still Remains In San Joaquin Watershed
Valley Public Radio - August 8, 2017
The Airborne Snow Observatory is Changing the Way Snow is Mapped
Earthzine - July 19, 2017
The Kings River flooded from snowmelt that couldn't be measured or predicted
Los Angeles Times - June 26, 2017
Measuring the snowpack goes high-tech with airborne lasers and radar
Los Angeles Times - June 11, 2017
Central Sierra Nevada Snowpack Larger Than Previous Four Years Combined
Capital Public Radio - April 18, 2017
We Have Some Good News on the California Drought. Take a Look.
The New York Times - March 22, 2017
NASA Launches Pilot Project To Measure Snow Pack From The Sky
Capital Public Radio - March 7, 2017
KTVU ASO Exclusive
KTVU - February 25, 2016
California Tuolumne Snowpack 40 Percent of Worst Year
NASA JPL - April 1, 2015
New tech helps measure Sierra snowpack from the sky
ABC 7 News - March 2, 2015
NASA scientists measure snowpack in a new way
KCRA - February 18, 2015
California’s Drought, As Measured From the Sky
Bay Nature January 22, 2015
New Technology Measures Snowpack Amid California Drought
National Geographic - August 5, 2014
Finding Water in Snow
Earth Observatory - April 3, 2014
NASA Airborne Snow Observatory ensures West’s water data grows with water demand
Environmental Monitor - January 13, 2014
NASA Snow Mapper Reaps Big Benefits for California
NSA.org - December 9, 2013
Yosemite's largest ice mass is melting fast
Los Angeles Times - October 01, 2013
How soot killed the Little Ice Age
Nature - September 02, 2013
NASA mission has created best maps of Colorado snowpack
The Denver Post - May 05, 2013
A possible new way to manage water and snow in thirsty California
The Washington Post - May 05, 2013
NASA Opens New Era in Measuring Western U.S. Snowpack
NASA/JPL - May 02, 2013
Airborne laboratory being used to measure California's snowpack
Los Angeles Times - May 01, 2013
IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGY New data and advancements designed to improve efficiency
Western Growers - May 01, 2013
A possible new way to manage water and snow in thirsty California
Washington Post - April 28, 2013
NASA Opens New Era in Measuring Western U.S. Snowpack
The Daily Camera - March 08, 2013
Dan Goods, JPL's science seer
Los Angeles Times - February 20, 2013
Global Warming Might Threaten Water Supply
Voice of America - November 11, 2012

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