8legs: University of vermont

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Is it raining or snowing? Here’s why that’s so hard for scientists to answer.

Researchers are combining ground instruments, video analysis, and machine learning to classify precipitation as rain or snow.
Video distrometers capture high-speed images of falling precipitation to improve readings.
Citizen scientists helped crowdsource nearly 100,000 observations of rain, snow, or mixed precipitation.
Automated sensors face challenges in mountain terrain and during ice storms, where maintenance delays occur.
Mountains may shift precipitation from snow to rain as climate change alters baselines and weather patterns.
A combination of satellites, lasers, ground instruments, and AI helps resolve precipitation types more accurately.
Storm Peak Laboratory on a Colorado mountaintop serves as a testbed for multi-instrument precipitation studies.
Researchers are exploring automated observations to reduce the need for human monitoring in the future.
The findings impact road planning, water management, and drought monitoring as snowpack changes with climate.
Experts stress that human observation remains valuable even with advanced technologies.

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