Sensing Mountain Snow: New Tech, Old Problems

Resources

Books

• "The Mount Rose Snow Sampler" by James Church - A description of an early device invented to measure snow depth and water content.

Videos & Documentaries

• "The Trump Administration's Cutbacks" - Mentioned as a threat to federal snowpack monitoring efforts.

Research & Studies

• "California Cold Content Initiative" - A project in collaboration with the California Department of Water Resources to develop resilient snowpack temperature sensing systems.

Tools & Software

• "NotebookLM" - An AI-first tool for organizing ideas and making connections with complex information, mentioned by its co-founder.
• "Noah app" - An application for listening to articles from major publishers.
• "Infrared Device" - An experimental tool being tested to take temperature readings down a hole in the snow.
• "Mount Rose Snow Sampler" - An early device used for measuring snow depth and water content, with sections of tube that screw together.
• "Snowtel Network" - A network of permanent monitoring sites across mountains equipped with sensors for air temperature, snow depth, soil moisture, and snow pillows to weigh snow.
• "Snow Temperature Profiler" - A skinny infrared device designed to fit down a hole dug by snow surveyors for measuring snowpack temperature.
• "Probe Thermometer" - A tool used for taking temperature readings within a snow pit.
• "Beaded Temperature Cable" - A type of cable being researched by the NRCS at select Snowtel sites.
• "Regression Models" - Traditional models used to translate snowpack water amount into water flow forecasts.

Articles & Papers

• "Why climate researchers are taking the temperature of mountain snow" (MIT Technology Review) - The central article discussed in the podcast episode.

People Mentioned

• "Dan Macavoy" (Climate Researcher, Desert Research Institute) - Involved in testing a new infrared device for measuring snowpack temperature.
• "Björn Bingham" (Climate Researcher, Desert Research Institute) - Involved in testing a new infrared device for measuring snowpack temperature.
• "Larry O'Neal" (Oregon's State Climatologist) - Emphasized the importance of snowpack measurements for water management.
• "James Church" (Classics Professor, University of Nevada Reno) - Invented the Mount Rose Snow Sampler to help resolve water disputes.
• "Ann Haley" (Professor of Mountain Hydrometeorology, Desert Research Institute) - Had the idea to use an infrared device for snowpack temperature measurement.
• "Megan Mason" (Research Scientist, UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab) - Involved in collecting data from instruments measuring snowpack temperature.
• "Andrew Schwartz" (Director, UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab) - Discussed the expansion of snow monitoring stations and collaboration between research groups.

Organizations & Institutions

• "Desert Research Institute (DRI)" - An institution where climate researchers Dan Macavoy and Björn Bingham work, testing new snowpack temperature measurement techniques.
• "US Bureau of Reclamation" - A federal agency funding research into the use of infrared gadgets for determining snowpack temperatures.
• "UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab" - A lab involved in developing resilient systems for transmitting hourly snowpack temperature readings.
• "US Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)" - The agency that carries on the federal snow survey program and operates the Snowtel network.
• "California Department of Water Resources" - Collaborating with the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab on the California Cold Content Initiative.

Websites & Online Resources

• "notebooklm.google.com" - The website to try NotebookLM.
• "news over audio.com" - A website where listeners can find articles from major publishers.

Other Resources

• "Heavenly Ski Resort" - The location where researchers Dan Macavoy and Björn Bingham conducted field tests of their infrared device.
• "Lake Tahoe" - The location that sparked the development of the snow survey program and was central to early water disputes.