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Snowpack refers to snow deposits on the earth’s surface, which can be permanent or seasonal. Meteorologists use snow cover levels to monitor environmental health and aid forecasting. Satellites can collect data on snowpack, which can be analyzed to create comprehensive maps. Snow can indicate climate change and provide a source of water, so water management authorities track snowpack data. Recent snow cover data is available through government agencies and universities.
The term “snowpack” refers to the deposits of snow on the earth’s surface. Some snow deposits, as seen at the poles and at very high altitudes, are permanent, others are seasonal and can wax and wane over time. Meteorologists monitor snowpack as part of their general weather surveys. Snow cover levels can provide important clues about environmental health and could help with forecasting efforts.
Satellites can take pictures of the Earth to collect snowpack data. As long as clouds do not obscure the image, the satellite can quickly identify reflective areas where snow is present and can transmit this data to collectors on Earth. Computer programs can analyze satellite data to return a comprehensive map showing how much snow is in the surveyed area. Researchers can also manually test the snow to determine the depth of deposits and identify the densely layered deposits known as snowpack.
In terms of climate, the presence or absence of snow can be an indicator. If the snow lingers unusually late or melts early, it can be a sign that the climate in the area is changing. While some variation in the timing from year to year is expected, overall it should be consistent. Likewise, very late or early snowfall in the fall and winter can also be a sign of concern.
The reflective nature of snow allows it to play a role in global temperatures and is of interest to climate scientists. They could look at data on snow deposition over time to link snow with temperature fluctuations. They can also create models to see what would happen in the event of a radical increase or decrease in snow cover around the world.
Also, snow provides a source of water. Thin snowpack can be a warning sign to prepare for a possible drought in summer and fall, because there won’t be enough snowmelt to meet a population’s needs if not enough rain is falling. This can affect waterways and human populations. Water management authorities track snowpack data to determine whether they need to take conservation measures or other steps to protect water supplies.
Recent snow cover data is often available through government agencies dealing with weather and related topics. It can also be found through colleges and universities that have climate and weather programs. Some organizations create computer applications that provide regular automatic updates for people who want to closely monitor snow conditions.
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