A Brief History...
Snow surveys in the West date back to
around 1906, when the University of Nevada's Dr. James Church laid out
the first western snow course. Dr. Church also invented key sampling
procedures and equipment.
What is a Snow Course?
A snow course is a permanent site where manual measurements of snow
depth and snow water equivalent are taken by trained observers.
Measurements are usually taken around the first of the month during the
winter and spring. Generally, the courses are about 1,000 feet long and are
situated in small meadows protected from the wind.
|
Dr. James Church developed
measuring equipment and
sampling techniques that led
to
the first water supply
forecasts. |
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