NASA tests snow cover measuring technology on largest mesa in the world [Video]

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO/Gray News) – Snow scientists from NASA and Boise State University were up on the Grand Mesa testing new radar technology to monitor snow cover Thursday, which is a part of NASA’s SnowEx campaign.

NASA said that no single satellite-borne sensor has yet been demonstrated to accurately measure the planet’s snow water equivalent.

Mapping the amount of snow on a mountain range can give an accurate idea of how much snow melt will go into rivers and streams, necessary for water management, flood forecasting, hydro-power forecasting, avalanche-related problems and much more.

Grand Mesa is one of 20 field sites where the technology is being tested.

The team of snow scientists gathered on the Grand Mesa, the largest mesa in the world, from their base of operations, the Grand Mesa Lodge, to work with an aircraft that took off from Grand Junction Regional Airport.

The aircraft used an instrument featuring radar sensors developed …