Community Snow Observations

CSO is a citizen science campaign to measure snow. Make your backcountry travels count! We need your help measuring snow depths in mountain places too vast for researchers to monitor. Your observations help us predict snow conditions and improve safety for mountain travelers.

What we’re doing

This project aims to improve our understanding of snow depth variability in mountainous regions. We need community-based observers, including backcountry professionals and recreationists, to help gather snow observations.

Uses of snow data

“On the ground” measurements aid interpretations of satellite and airborne snow measurements collected by NASA and other agencies.

Snow data help improve water runoff models. Predicting and understanding variability in water runoff is important due to effects on snow avalanche hazards, water resources, ecology, tourism, and the impacts of a changing climate.

Citizen scientists will learn more about snow depth distribution. This can help them them make better decisions while navigating in avalanche terrain.