Snowpack - Revision history

JeffreyJLukas at 16:29, 25 February 2026

2026-02-25T16:29:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:29, 25 February 2026
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	Variation in snowfall and the resulting size of the snowpack from year to year is the primary influence on the magnitude of seasonal (spring-summer), annual, and peak streamflows. Accordingly, monitoring the evolution of the basin's snowpack over the course of the winter and spring is critical to forecasting streamflow and managing water supply. Snow monitoring is also vital to other river-based interests, such as fisheries management and guided rafting.		Variation in snowfall and the resulting size of the snowpack from year to year is the primary influence on the magnitude of seasonal (spring-summer), annual, and peak streamflows. Accordingly, monitoring the evolution of the basin's snowpack over the course of the winter and spring is critical to forecasting streamflow and managing water supply. Snow monitoring is also vital to other river-based interests, such as fisheries management and guided rafting.

	Many individual weather events shape the snowpack: storms that build snow accumulations, wind events that redistribute snow and occasionally deposit dust on the snowpack, and abnormally sunny and warm spells that drive ~~sublimation in the winter and~~ rapid snowmelt in the spring. The aggregate of these events and their complex interactions with the terrain and vegetation cause each year's snowpack to evolve in a unique way, while still following some general patterns in space and time.		Many individual weather events shape the snowpack: storms that build snow accumulations, wind events that redistribute snow and occasionally deposit dust on the snowpack, high wintertime winds and clear spring days with high net radiation that lead to sublimation events, and abnormally sunny and warm spells that drive rapid snowmelt in the spring. The aggregate of these events and their complex interactions with the terrain and vegetation cause each year's snowpack to evolve in a unique way, while still following some general patterns in space and time.

	Monitoring of the basin's snowpack has long relied on observations at hundreds of snow courses and automated SNOTEL stations. More recently, this backbone network of in-situ observations has been increasingly augmented by satellite and airborne remote sensing of the snowpack, citizen snow observations, and modeling that integrates varied snow observations with weather data to provide a finer-grained, spatially explicit picture of the snowpack.		Monitoring of the basin's snowpack has long relied on observations at hundreds of snow courses and automated SNOTEL stations. More recently, this backbone network of in-situ observations has been increasingly augmented by satellite and airborne remote sensing of the snowpack, citizen snow observations, and modeling that integrates varied snow observations with weather data to provide a finer-grained, spatially explicit picture of the snowpack.

JeffreyJLukas: /* Additional resources */

2024-10-21T20:55:13Z

Additional resources

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:55, 21 October 2024
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	===[https://wwa.colorado.edu/resources/colorado-river-resources/CRBreport Colorado River Basin Climate and Hydrology: State of the Science report]===		===[https://wwa.colorado.edu/resources/colorado-river-resources/CRBreport Colorado River Basin Climate and Hydrology: State of the Science report]===

	[https://wwa.colorado.edu/publications/reports/CRBreport/ColoRiver_StateOfScience_WWA_2020_Chapter_2.pdf Chapter 2] of the ~~2020~~ State of the Science report, Section 2.5, provides an overview of the basin's snowmelt-dominated hydrology and key snowpack processes and patterns.		[https://wwa.colorado.edu/publications/reports/CRBreport/ColoRiver_StateOfScience_WWA_2020_Chapter_2.pdf Chapter 2] of the State of the Science report, Section 2.5, provides an overview of the basin's snowmelt-dominated hydrology and key snowpack processes and patterns.

	[https://wwa.colorado.edu/publications/reports/CRBreport/ColoRiver_StateOfScience_WWA_2020_Chapter_5.pdf Chapter 5] of the ~~2020~~ State of the Science report, Section 5.1, describes the different methods for snowpack monitoring in much greater detail, along with links to several snow-monitoring tools.		[https://wwa.colorado.edu/publications/reports/CRBreport/ColoRiver_StateOfScience_WWA_2020_Chapter_5.pdf Chapter 5] of the State of the Science report, Section 5.1, describes the different methods for snowpack monitoring in much greater detail, along with links to several snow-monitoring tools.

	===[https://wwa.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/2021-10/Snowpack_Monitoring_in_the_Rocky_Mountain_West_A_User_Guide.pdf Snowpack Monitoring in the Rocky Mountain West: A User Guide]===		===[https://wwa.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/2021-10/Snowpack_Monitoring_in_the_Rocky_Mountain_West_A_User_Guide.pdf Snowpack Monitoring in the Rocky Mountain West: A User Guide]===

	This user guide expands on Section 5.1 of the State of the Science report with guidance on selecting appropriate snow-monitoring data and tools, and guidance on accessing and using the different online tools.		This user guide expands on Section 5.1 of the State of the Science report with guidance on selecting appropriate snow-monitoring data and tools, and guidance on accessing and using the different online tools.

JeffreyJLukas: /* Additional resources */

2024-10-21T20:54:59Z

Additional resources

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:54, 21 October 2024
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	==Additional resources==		==Additional resources==

	===State of the Science ~~Report~~===		===[https://wwa.colorado.edu/resources/colorado-river-resources/CRBreport Colorado River Basin Climate and Hydrology: State of the Science report]===

	[https://wwa.colorado.edu/publications/reports/CRBreport/ColoRiver_StateOfScience_WWA_2020_Chapter_2.pdf Chapter 2] of the State of the Science report, Section 2.5, provides an overview of the basin's snowmelt-dominated hydrology and key snowpack processes and patterns.		[https://wwa.colorado.edu/publications/reports/CRBreport/ColoRiver_StateOfScience_WWA_2020_Chapter_2.pdf Chapter 2] of the 2020 State of the Science report, Section 2.5, provides an overview of the basin's snowmelt-dominated hydrology and key snowpack processes and patterns.

	[https://wwa.colorado.edu/publications/reports/CRBreport/ColoRiver_StateOfScience_WWA_2020_Chapter_5.pdf Chapter 5] of the State of the Science report, Section 5.1, describes the different methods for snowpack monitoring in much greater detail, along with links to several snow-monitoring tools.		[https://wwa.colorado.edu/publications/reports/CRBreport/ColoRiver_StateOfScience_WWA_2020_Chapter_5.pdf Chapter 5] of the 2020 State of the Science report, Section 5.1, describes the different methods for snowpack monitoring in much greater detail, along with links to several snow-monitoring tools.

	===[https://wwa.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/2021-10/Snowpack_Monitoring_in_the_Rocky_Mountain_West_A_User_Guide.pdf Snowpack Monitoring in the Rocky Mountain West: A User Guide]===		===[https://wwa.colorado.edu/sites/default/files/2021-10/Snowpack_Monitoring_in_the_Rocky_Mountain_West_A_User_Guide.pdf Snowpack Monitoring in the Rocky Mountain West: A User Guide]===

	This user guide expands on Section 5.1 of the State of the Science report with guidance on selecting appropriate snow-monitoring data and tools, and guidance on accessing and using the different online tools.		This user guide expands on Section 5.1 of the State of the Science report with guidance on selecting appropriate snow-monitoring data and tools, and guidance on accessing and using the different online tools.

JeffreyJLukas at 19:57, 29 November 2023

2023-11-29T19:57:20Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:57, 29 November 2023
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	* For more information about ASO activities in Colorado, see the [https://coloradosnow.org/ Colorado Airborne Snowpack Monitoring Program (CASM) webpage]		* For more information about ASO activities in Colorado, see the [https://coloradosnow.org/ Colorado Airborne Snowpack Monitoring Program (CASM) webpage]

	===Other snowpack information===		===Other real-time snowpack information===

	====[http://www.codos.org/ Colorado Dust-on-Snow (CODOS) reports]====		====[http://www.codos.org/ Colorado Dust-on-Snow (CODOS) reports]====

JeffreyJLukas: /* SNOTEL and other in-situ snow data */

2023-11-24T23:52:09Z

SNOTEL and other in-situ snow data

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:52, 24 November 2023
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	<onlyinclude>		<onlyinclude>
	===SNOTEL and other in-situ snow data===		===SNOTEL and other in-situ snow data===
	====[https://nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/imap/ NRCS Interactive Map]====		====[https://nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/imap/#version=169&elements=&networks=!&states=!&basins=!&hucs=&minElevation=&maxElevation=&elementSelectType=any&activeOnly=true&activeForecastPointsOnly=false&hucLabels=false&hucIdLabels=false&hucParameterLabels=true&stationLabels=&overlays=&hucOverlays=2&basinOpacity=45&basinNoDataOpacity=20&basemapOpacity=60&maskOpacity=0&mode=data&openSections=dataElement,parameter,date,basin,options,elements,location,networks,overlays&controlsOpen=true&popup=&popupMulti=&popupBasin=&base=esriNgwm&displayType=basinstation&basinType=6&dataElement=WTEQ&depth=-8&parameter=PCTMED&frequency=DAILY&duration=I&customDuration=&dayPart=E&monthPart=E&forecastPubDay=1&forecastExceedance=50&useMixedPast=true&seqColor=1&divColor=7&scaleType=D&scaleMin=&scaleMax=&referencePeriodType=POR&referenceBegin=1991&referenceEnd=2020&minimumYears=20&hucAssociations=true&relativeDate=-1&lat=37.994&lon=-109.850&zoom=6.5 NRCS Interactive Map - SNOTEL % of median SWE for date]====
	This very versatile tool provides a clear spatial overview of snowpack (SNOTEL) and other hydroclimate conditions across the western U.S., while allowing users to easily drill down into site-level data. Displays		This very versatile tool provides a clear spatial overview of snowpack (SNOTEL) and other hydroclimate conditions across the western U.S., while allowing users to easily drill down into site-level data. Displays
	both near-real-time data (previous day) and historical data.		both near-real-time data (previous day) and historical data.

JeffreyJLukas: /* SNOTEL and other in-situ snow data */

2023-11-24T23:46:29Z

SNOTEL and other in-situ snow data

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:46, 24 November 2023
Line 14:		Line 14:
	<onlyinclude>		<onlyinclude>
	===SNOTEL and other in-situ snow data===		===SNOTEL and other in-situ snow data===
	====[https://~~www~~.~~nrcs~~.usda.gov/~~wps/portal~~/~~wcc/home/quicklinks/imap~~ NRCS Interactive Map]====		====[https://nwcc-apps.sc.egov.usda.gov/imap/ NRCS Interactive Map]====
	This very versatile tool provides a clear spatial overview of snowpack (SNOTEL) and other hydroclimate conditions across the western U.S., while allowing users to easily drill down into site-level data. Displays		This very versatile tool provides a clear spatial overview of snowpack (SNOTEL) and other hydroclimate conditions across the western U.S., while allowing users to easily drill down into site-level data. Displays
	both near-real-time data (previous day) and historical data.		both near-real-time data (previous day) and historical data.

JeffreyJLukas at 20:27, 18 October 2023

2023-10-18T20:27:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:27, 18 October 2023
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	[[File:UCRB_April1SWEvsRunoff.png\|thumb\|700px\|Figure 1. Colorado River Basin modeled average April 1st snow-water equivalent (SWE; left) and modeled average annual runoff (right). Note that areas producing >1" of runoff closely coincide with those that have a consistent April 1st snowpack. Maps: Figure 2.3, State of the Science Report (Lukas and Payton 2020); data: Livneh et al. 2013]]		[[File:UCRB_April1SWEvsRunoff.png\|thumb\|700px\|Figure 1. Colorado River Basin modeled average April 1st snow-water equivalent (SWE; left) and modeled average annual runoff (right). Note that areas producing >1" of runoff closely coincide with those that have a consistent April 1st snowpack. Maps: Figure 2.3, State of the Science Report (Lukas and Payton 2020); data: Livneh et al. 2013]]

	In the Colorado River Basin, snow is a key component of the hydrologic cycle. Most of the basin’s annual streamflow—about 70%—originates as snowmelt. The basin's seasonal snowpack acts as an enormous reservoir that builds up and releases every winter and spring. This 'snow reservoir' ~~is found~~ almost entirely in the mountain ranges and high plateaus that cover only a small fraction of the total area of the basin.		In the Colorado River Basin, snow is a key component of the hydrologic cycle. Most of the basin’s annual streamflow—about 70%—originates as snowmelt. The basin's seasonal snowpack acts as an enormous reservoir that builds up and releases every winter and spring; it has an average seasonal peak volume of about 18 million acre-feet in the Upper Basin, equivalent to 70% of the capacity of Lake Powell. This 'snow reservoir' accumulates almost entirely in the mountain ranges and high plateaus that cover only a small fraction of the total area of the basin.

	~~The~~ snowpack ~~reservoir has average~~ seasonal peak ~~volume~~ of ~~about 18 million acre-feet in~~ the ~~Upper Basin, equivalent to 70%~~ of the ~~capacity of Lake Powell~~, ~~but its size varies widely from year to year~~. Many individual weather events shape the snowpack: storms that build snow accumulations, wind events that redistribute snow and occasionally deposit dust on the snowpack, and abnormally sunny and warm spells that drive sublimation in the winter and rapid snowmelt in the spring. The aggregate of these events and their complex interactions with the terrain and vegetation cause each year's snowpack to evolve in a unique way, while still following some general patterns in space and time.		Variation in snowfall and the resulting size of the snowpack from year to year is the primary influence on the magnitude of seasonal (spring-summer), annual, and peak streamflows. Accordingly, monitoring the evolution of the basin's snowpack over the course of the winter and spring is critical to forecasting streamflow and managing water supply. Snow monitoring is also vital to other river-based interests, such as fisheries management and guided rafting.

			Many individual weather events shape the snowpack: storms that build snow accumulations, wind events that redistribute snow and occasionally deposit dust on the snowpack, and abnormally sunny and warm spells that drive sublimation in the winter and rapid snowmelt in the spring. The aggregate of these events and their complex interactions with the terrain and vegetation cause each year's snowpack to evolve in a unique way, while still following some general patterns in space and time.

	Monitoring of the basin's snowpack has long relied on observations at hundreds of snow courses and automated SNOTEL stations. More recently, this backbone network of in-situ observations has been increasingly augmented by satellite and airborne remote sensing of the snowpack, citizen snow observations, and modeling that integrates varied snow observations with weather data to provide a finer-grained, spatially explicit picture of the snowpack.		Monitoring of the basin's snowpack has long relied on observations at hundreds of snow courses and automated SNOTEL stations. More recently, this backbone network of in-situ observations has been increasingly augmented by satellite and airborne remote sensing of the snowpack, citizen snow observations, and modeling that integrates varied snow observations with weather data to provide a finer-grained, spatially explicit picture of the snowpack.

	~~==Relevance==~~

	Variation in snowfall and the resulting size of the snowpack from year to year is the primary influence on the magnitude of seasonal (spring-summer), annual, and peak streamflows. Accordingly, monitoring the evolution of the basin's snowpack over the course of the winter and spring is critical to forecasting streamflow and managing water supply. Snow monitoring is also vital to other river-based interests, such as fisheries management and guided rafting.

	==Data and tools==		==Data and tools==

JeffreyJLukas: /* ASO (Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.) - Basin Map */

2023-06-05T16:04:20Z

ASO (Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.) - Basin Map

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:04, 5 June 2023
Line 49:		Line 49:
	====[https://data.airbornesnowobservatories.com/ ASO (Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.) - Basin Map]====		====[https://data.airbornesnowobservatories.com/ ASO (Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.) - Basin Map]====
	ASO uses airborne lidar to measure snow depths across a basin on demand; these depth measurements are combined with snow-density modeling to estimate SWE with high accuracy at 50-m spatial resolution. Free registration required to view the data for all ASO-flown basins.		ASO uses airborne lidar to measure snow depths across a basin on demand; these depth measurements are combined with snow-density modeling to estimate SWE with high accuracy at 50-m spatial resolution. Free registration required to view the data for all ASO-flown basins.
	* ~~Additional~~ information about ASO activities in Colorado ~~is available on~~ the [https://coloradosnow.org/ Colorado Airborne Snowpack Monitoring Program (CASM) webpage]		* For more information about ASO activities in Colorado, see the [https://coloradosnow.org/ Colorado Airborne Snowpack Monitoring Program (CASM) webpage]

	===Other snowpack information===		===Other snowpack information===

JeffreyJLukas: /* ASO (Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.) - Basin Map */

2023-06-05T16:03:41Z

ASO (Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.) - Basin Map

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:03, 5 June 2023
Line 49:		Line 49:
	====[https://data.airbornesnowobservatories.com/ ASO (Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.) - Basin Map]====		====[https://data.airbornesnowobservatories.com/ ASO (Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.) - Basin Map]====
	ASO uses airborne lidar to measure snow depths across a basin on demand; these depth measurements are combined with snow-density modeling to estimate SWE with high accuracy at 50-m spatial resolution. Free registration required to view the data for all ASO-flown basins.		ASO uses airborne lidar to measure snow depths across a basin on demand; these depth measurements are combined with snow-density modeling to estimate SWE with high accuracy at 50-m spatial resolution. Free registration required to view the data for all ASO-flown basins.
			* Additional information about ASO activities in Colorado is available on the [https://coloradosnow.org/ Colorado Airborne Snowpack Monitoring Program (CASM) webpage]

	===Other snowpack information===		===Other snowpack information===

JeffreyJLukas: /* ASO (Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.) - ASO-Flown Watersheds Map */

2023-06-05T16:01:03Z

ASO (Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.) - ASO-Flown Watersheds Map

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:01, 5 June 2023
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	===Gridded snow products based on remotely-sensed data===		===Gridded snow products based on remotely-sensed data===

	====[https://data.airbornesnowobservatories.com/ ASO (Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.) - ~~ASO-Flown Watersheds~~ Map]====		====[https://data.airbornesnowobservatories.com/ ASO (Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.) - Basin Map]====
	ASO uses airborne lidar to measure snow depths across a ~~watershed~~; these depth measurements are combined with snow-density modeling to estimate SWE with high accuracy at 50-m spatial resolution. Free registration required to view data for ~~the~~ ASO-flown ~~watersheds~~.		ASO uses airborne lidar to measure snow depths across a basin on demand; these depth measurements are combined with snow-density modeling to estimate SWE with high accuracy at 50-m spatial resolution. Free registration required to view the data for all ASO-flown basins.

	===Other snowpack information===		===Other snowpack information===