Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.

06/09/2026

Late in the season many of the Sierra Nevada's automated snow sensors have melted out. Despite warm and dry conditions considerable amounts of snow remain at high elevations in complex terrain. Assessing the snow water equivalent of these areas is critical to understanding how much water remains above reservoirs across the state, even after snow sensors go offline.

Over the last month A*O field technicians were on the ground across the Sierras digging snow pits in support of our airborne surveys.

A*O depends on these measurements to support the remote sensing and data processing pipline that accurately and precisely estimates how much water is stored in the snowpack. Our field technicians collect snow density profiles from the snow surface down to the ground. Our team uses these measurements to assess and correct any bias in the isnobal model, combined with spatially complete, lidar-derived snow depths to measure SWE at the basin scale.

Unprecedented warm and dry conditions in 2026 have limited the insights available from point sensors. Our field measurements and basin-wide snow depths build a complete picture of SWE volume and distribution across the full extent of the basin.

05/19/2026

The American West's snowpack is changing fast — and the consequences for water supply, drought, and wildfire risk are profound.

Climate Central's Ben Tracy reports on how LiDAR-equipped aircraft are revolutionizing the way scientists measure mountain snow. By comprehensively mapping snow depth, water equivalent, and albedo basin-wide, A*O's technology allows tracking of snow water volumes at an accuracy and precision unmatched by any other method.

Born out of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, our airborne measurement platform gives water managers the high-resolution, rapid-turnaround data they need to make informed decisions — before a shortage becomes a crisis.

The data exists. The technology is proven. Now it's about making sure the people who manage our water have access to both.

🔗 Watch the full report:

Climate change is rapidly shrinking the snowpack that supplies much of the American West’s water — and scientists are turning to advanced airborne technology...

05/07/2026

Colorado's 2025-26 snowpack is historically low. A*O's airborne lidar and imaging spectrometer data is showing us exactly where the snowpack is and what it means for summer water supply.

The warm winter and spring have affected Colorado's snowpack in 2 ways:
First, warmer-than-typical storms produced rain at low elevations, and warm snow up high. Rain instead of snow over that large lower elevation terrain area means that the basin-wide SWE deficit can be big.
Second, the historic heat wave in March got melt season going early, eating into that meager, warm snowpack – producing an early peak in river flows and not leaving much for late spring and summer.

A*O technology originated at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. We work with a broad group of water managers and utilities allowing them to plan and operate with the most accurate basin-scale data available. Full story via the link in bio.

https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/high-tech-mapping-reveals-extent-colorado-snowpack/

Town of Snowmass Village
Colorado River District
Aurora, Colorado City Hall

04/20/2026

Airborne Snow Observatories is featured in a recent 9NEWS (KUSA), Denver article covering Colorado’s record low snowpack and what it means for water supply.

The story highlights how A*O uses lidar and imaging spectrometer data to deliver basin-scale, accurate and precise snow water equivalent and snow reflectance data across entire watersheds.

In a year where conditions are far below average (indeed unprecedented!), accurate water resource management data is essential for planning ahead.

Read the full article to learn how this work is supporting water managers across the West:

The Airborne Snow Observatory uses lidar and spectrometers to measure the water inside Colorado's record low snowpack.

04/16/2026

Airborne snow science has never mattered more.

This winter, unusually warm, dry, and sunny conditions caused snowpack in Arizona's Upper Black River basin to plummet by more than 90% in just a few weeks. Our lidar- and spectrometer-equipped aircraft captured that decline in real time, giving and ASU Center for Hydrologic Innovations the precise, timely data needed to manage one of the Phoenix area's most critical water supplies.

More than 2.5 million people depend on the Salt River system. As climate change and climate variability create greater swings in the water cycle, knowing when water will arrive matters as much as knowing how much is coming.

KJZZ Phoenix covered the story here: https://www.kjzz.org/science/2026-03-27/winter-heat-caused-rapid-snowmelt-in-salt-river-system

03/31/2026

Over the past two weeks our King Air A90 N95S completed survey operations across basins in four states including the Green River in Wyoming, the Rio Grande in Colorado, the Upper Black River in Arizona, and the Feather River in California.

As the plane moves on to the next target, our Compute, Science, Modeling, and Forecasting teams are already hard at work, processing raw lidar and spectrometer data into accurate and precise decision-support products, and supporting water managers around the West with actionable watershed intelligence.

That pipeline is powered by the people and partners behind it. Dynamic Aviation's pilots, mechanical support, and aviation services keep N95S airborne and mission-ready across every state we fly, while our collaboration with M3 Works LLC and their geophysical modeling expertise strengthens the analytical foundation our deliverables are built on.

The coordination from flight planning to final product is what enables basin-scale snow science at this pace and scale. As runoff season builds, water managers are making some of the most consequential decisions of the water year, with inflow forecasts, storage targets, and allocation plans all influenced by what's sitting in the snowpack above their reservoirs. Our team continues to deliver accurate, precise and timely snowpack insights to inform these decisions.

03/23/2026

Water does not start at the tap. Across the Western US and in many regions around the globe, it begins as snow. Snowpack stores water through the winter and releases it over time, making it one of the most important reservoirs in the water supply system. Small changes in accumulation or melt timing can have major downstream impacts.

That is why measuring snowpack is critical.

A*O delivers high resolution snow data and snow water equivalent data across entire basins, helping improve water resource management and forecasting.

Happy World Water Day from the A*O team 💧

03/19/2026

M3 Works is a mission-critical partner of A*O, supporting our operations through the iSnobal snow density model.

Beginning in 2012, the NASA A*O team partnered with the USDA Agricultural Research Service snow team to pair high-resolution airborne snow depth and albedo measurements with physically-based snow density modeling, enabling uniquely accurate and precise, basin-wide estimates of snow water equivalent (SWE).

In 2020, A*O Inc. and M3 Works emerged from their respective NASA and USDA technology transfers, allowing this collaboration to scale from research to operations. Today, our partnership underpins operational snowpack and snowmelt quantification used by water managers for Western US and global applications.

03/18/2026

Three Airborne Snow Observatories planes captured together in Mammoth — a rare moment made possible through our strong partnership with
Dynamic Aviation.

These aircraft represent the collaboration behind every successful airborne snow survey — combining A*O’s advanced LiDAR and hyperspectral snow remote sensing capabilities with Dynamic Aviation’s exceptional flight operations and mission-ready aviation support.

Together, we deliver high-resolution, basin-scale snow measurements that strengthen water supply forecasting and provide critical hydrologic decision support for the communities and operators that depend on mountain snowpack.

When aviation excellence and snow science innovation align — this is what it looks like. ✈️❄️

Learn more about us & Dynamic Aviation: https://www.airbornesnowobservatories.com/
https://www.dynamicaviation.com/

02/10/2026

We're already looking forward to next year!

Mark your calendars for A*O's 2026 Annual Workshop happening September 15-17 at Palisades Tahoe. It gets bigger and better every year. See you there!

https://www.airbornesnowobservatories.com/workshop/