Lasers in the sky: hi-tech missions track record snowpack loss in US west
Summary
A specialized aircraft uses laser technology called Lidar to measure snow depth and water in the western U.S. mountains. This year, data shows an unprecedented loss of snowpack due to drought and warm weather, causing water shortages and raising wildfire risks.Key Facts
- Lidar technology sends 800,000 laser pulses per second to create precise 3D maps of snow depth.
- Snowpack in California was only 18% of the average level on April 1 and has decreased since.
- More than 60% of the lower 48 U.S. states are experiencing drought, the worst spring drought since 2000.
- Warm winter and early March heatwave, both linked to climate change, reduced the western snowpack to record lows.
- Early snowmelt is causing streams to run early, raising wildfire risks and reducing water for reservoirs.
- Colorado River reservoirs are critically low due to reduced snowpack and runoff.
- Water management systems assume snow melts gradually through summer, but this pattern is changing.
- Experts say this extreme drought could become normal in coming decades due to ongoing climate change.
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