Using older models and newer methods, Hu and the team of scientists conclude that ants and photons are extremely alike in the realm of snow-depth research. This helped the principle come to fruition that light bouncing around in snow would produce gaugable and viable results. ICESat-2 (Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite-2) now reads light entering snowpacks with a better grasp. This theory helps show that snow depth is approximately half the average distance that the photon traveled inside the snow. New ways to measure snow depth lets us see where the water on our planet is going. Snow isn’t just great for making snow angels or having snowball fights — it also helps keep our planet cool. “I am confident this technique will revolutionize how we forecast snow evolution in the future and model sea ice changes, and we are already working on the design of the next generation of satellites specifically for snow depth,” adds Hu. The research paper is published in the journal Frontiers in Remote Sensing.
