Let It Snow For Science

Let It Snow for Science

When the weather outside is frightful…

Science in the field gets even more delightful. Two different missions are in the field right now, studying snow and how it affects communities around the country.

From our Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia, the IMPACTS mission is flying up and down the East Coast, investigating how snow forms inside clouds. In Grand Mesa, Colorado, SnowEx’s teams on the ground and in the air are taking a close look at how much water is stored in snow.

Hate going out in the storm? The IMPACTS mission can help with that! IMPACTS uses two planes – a P-3 Orion and an ER-2 – flying through and high above the clouds to study where intense bands of snowfall form. Better understanding where intense snow will fall can improve forecast models down the road — helping prepare communities for snowstorms.

Cameras mounted on the wings of the P3 took microscopic images of snowflakes, like this one.

At the same time, the SnowEx team is in Colorado, studying the depth and density of snow. Researchers are making radar spirals with snowmobiles and working in giant snow pits to measure things like snow water equivalent, or how much water is stored in snow.

SnowEx is helping us better understand snow’s role in ecosystems and human systems, like irrigation for agriculture. If you want to bring some corn for popping, SnowEx’s science can help grow that crop.

Follow along with our teams as they brave the cold and snow: https://twitter.com/nasaexpeditions

Make sure to follow us on Tumblr for your regular dose of space: http://nasa.tumblr.com

Spiderman Homecoming

*before the movie* : i’m ready. i’m prepared. i will be okay.

*after the movie* : … I’M SHOOK. TOM HOLLAND IS LIFE. I LOVE HIM. LOOK AT HIM GO. THAT’S MY BOY. LIFE WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. PETER PARKER SLAYS. TONY STARK’S PARENTING SKILLS YASSSSS. PETER AND MJ ARE ENDGAME. NED IS A CUTE LIL BEAN BFF TO PETER. MY LIFE IS COMPLETE.

*hours later* : is it on dvd yet??

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suzukihara

5 years ago

Please Tell Me You’re Going To Appeal To My Humanity.

Please tell me you’re going to appeal to my humanity.

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suzukihara

5 years ago

Sunrise City ღ

Cerro del Mirador, Nuevo León, Monterrey, México.

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suzukihara

5 years ago

Relishing the burst of sunlight and blue skies after many dark days and rain at Olympic National Park in Washington. The sunshine is well worth the wait. 🌞😎 Winter brings unique beauty and challenge to Olympic’s mountain views, rugged coastline and majestic forest. It’s always a good idea to check the weather forecast and current road conditions before you head out, as conditions can change quickly at any time of year. Here’s hoping you catch a sunny day to break up any gray winter tones. Photo courtesy of Matt and Karen Smith.

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suzukihara

5 years ago

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suzukihara

5 years ago

Apartment buildings in Macau

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suzukihara

5 years ago

What’s that stomping around African savannas and grasslands? It’s the Secretary Bird (Sagittarius serpentarius)! This raptor hunts on the ground, often using its powerful legs to take down prey. It’s a foe to be reckoned with, standing as much as 3.9 feet (1.2 meters) tall and walking around 18 miles (30 kilometers) a day, on average. Smaller prey like beetles and grasshoppers typically get plucked from the ground, but larger prey such as snakes and small mammals get the stomping treatment. The Secretary Bird delivers a blow to the back of the head until the target is unconscious or dead, then swallows its meal whole! Photo: Bernard Dupont https://www.instagram.com/p/B8xq1uhHl-u/?igshid=14oy7btj0mne1

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suzukihara

5 years ago

Gahyeon: Top ten reasons to get married?

SuA: Firmly saying "That's my wife!" and knocking someone out in one punch.

Gahyeon:

SuA: ...And love, I guess.

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suzukihara

5 years ago