Tuesday July 16, 2024
KCRA —
Changes in California’s climate patterns are making it more difficult for scientists to accurately estimate the state’s snowpack. This could present a problem for water managers, who rely on accurate numbers to plan for spring flood control and annual water supply allocations.
Historically, a large network of automatic sensors called “snow pillows” has been used to take automated measurements of the weight of the snow at a specific location. Knowing the weight allows scientists to calculate the amount of water in the snow.
Decades of that measured data combined with an understanding of historical snow trends have allowed scientists to make informed estimates about the amount of snow in certain areas. As California’s climate changes, the relationships informing those estimates may become less useful.
“When we use all of this knowledge that we’ve gained from our really long record of the past and try to apply it in a new situation that doesn’t look quite like the past, we don’t trust that application as well,” said Marianne Cowherd.