As climate change accelerates and weather patterns grow increasingly erratic, scientists are turning their focus to the temperature inside mountain snowpacks—a key factor in forecasting when vital meltwater will be released downstream. This information is critical in regions like California and Nevada, where snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada supplies water to millions and helps prevent both drought and flooding.
In early April, climate researchers Dan McEvoy and Bjoern Bingham from the Desert Research Institute (DRI) took to the slopes of Heavenly Ski Resort near Lake Tahoe—not to ski, but to test an experimental infrared device that measures the temperature profile of the snowpack. The Sierra Nevada snowpack acts as a massive frozen reservoir, and its stability is vital to managing billions of gallons of runoff that flow into reservoirs each spring.
Traditionally, snowpack data has focused on depth and water content, collected with century-old tools like the Mt. Rose snow sampler and more modern SNOTEL (snow telemetry) stations. However, these systems lack internal temperature readings. Understanding snowpack “cold content”—how much energy is needed to warm the snow to melting point—is key to knowing when and how quickly snow will turn to water.
The new infrared device, developed in collaboration with tech company RPM Systems, offers a promising alternative to labor-intensive snow pit digging. It can be dropped into the same holes created during routine snow surveys, providing a vertical temperature profile without extensive manual work.
This innovation comes amid rising concern over data gaps caused by federal budget cuts. The Trump administration’s downsizing of scientific staff and funding across key agencies, including the USDA and its Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), threatens the maintenance of vital snow monitoring infrastructure like SNOTEL stations. Without this data, communities risk losing the ability to manage water resources effectively.
The infrared profiler is now being tested across several western states through a three-year project funded by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation. At the same time, the University of California’s Central Sierra Snow Lab is conducting parallel experiments using different temperature sensors in a bid to develop rugged, remote systems capable of surviving harsh alpine winters.
Ultimately, researchers hope to improve water forecasts by integrating this temperature data into more advanced models. The goal is to provide more accurate predictions of water availability, helping communities plan for seasonal droughts or sudden flooding events. As global warming alters the timing and nature of snowmelt, these advances could have far-reaching implications—not just for the American West, but for the roughly two billion people worldwide who rely on mountain snow and glaciers for water.
Yet progress remains fragile. Scientists warn that further erosion of federal support could cripple the very systems needed to adapt to a changing climate. In the face of political instability and environmental uncertainty, researchers stress the importance of bipartisan commitment to maintaining and modernizing water monitoring programs.
“In the West, we go into a seasonal drought every summer,” said Anne Heggli of DRI. “Our snowpack is what trickles down and gets us through that drought. We need to know how much we have.”
