Measuring Snow: Citizen Science in the Catskills

Summary: Winter in the Catskills isn’t just about skiing, sledding, or shoveling. Snowpack plays a critical role in our water resources, local economies, and even global climate regulation. In this episode, Brett Barry speaks with Dr. Marco Tedesco of Columbia University’s Lamont‑Doherty Earth Observatory, about the NASA‑funded X‑Snow Project — a citizen science initiative inviting volunteers to measure, photograph, and collect snow data across the region.

Together, they explore how local observations help validate satellite models, improve climate predictions, and build community engagement around environmental stewardship.

🎙️ Episode Highlights

• Snow as a climate regulator: Why reflective snowpack matters for Earth’s energy balance.

• Citizen science superheroes: How everyday volunteers contribute to NASA‑funded research.

• Snowpack vs. snow depth: Understanding SWE (snow water equivalent) and why density matters.

• Local impacts: Shorter winters, more rain events, and what that means for Catskills tourism, groundwater, and flood risk.

• Microplastics in snow: Emerging research on contaminants entering our water systems.

• Community partnerships: The Catskill Center’s role in training and outreach.

• How to get involved: Simple Tier‑1 measurements with nothing more than a ruler, or level up to advanced lab sampling.

📌 Resources & Links

• Learn more or volunteer: x‑snow.us

• Resources and supplies: catskillsvisitorcenter.org

• Full episode archive: kaatscast.com