We’re working with partners on a field station to understand the role that dust plays on snow, namely how it changes when and how much snow melts. Here’s a summary from the Wright Ingraham Institute’s page (go here to learn more about the field station):
“The Wright-Ingraham Institute, in partnership with Mountain Studies Institute is organizing an interdisciplinary, solutions-based project to generate creative solutions addressing the issue of Dust on Snow in the San Juan Mountains, and communities and ecosystems that depend on them.
Dust is produced from a multitude of anthropogenic and natural sources in arid lands, transported through the atmosphere, and eventually deposited onto the snowpack. This dust deposition on snow changes the reflectivity of the snowpack, leading to early and higher snowmelt rates. This, in turn, places stress on water storage, heightens the risk of floods and impacts drought. Although the project is centered around a specific geographic area, the issue is of global relevance.”
The field station is currently soliciting scholars, professionals, researchers, post-graduates, master’s and doctoral students to join the project. Go here to learn more and apply.
