<p><em>Measuring Snow: Citizen Science in the Catskills</em></p><p><strong>Summary:</strong> 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 <a href="https://lamont.columbia.edu" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Columbia University’s Lamont‑Doherty Earth Observatory</a>, about the NASA‑funded <a href="https://xsnow.us" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer"><strong>X‑Snow Project</strong></a> — a citizen science initiative inviting volunteers to measure, photograph, and collect snow data across the region.</p><p>Together, they explore how local observations help validate satellite models, improve climate predictions, and build community engagement around environmental stewardship.</p><p>🎙️ Episode Highlights</p><ul><li><p><strong>Snow as a climate regulator</strong>: Why reflective snowpack matters for Earth’s energy balance.</p></li><li><p><strong>Citizen science superheroes</strong>: How everyday volunteers contribute to NASA‑funded research.</p></li><li><p><strong>Snowpack vs. snow depth</strong>: Understanding <em>SWE</em> (snow water equivalent) and why density matters.</p></li><li><p><strong>Local impacts</strong>: Shorter winters, more rain events, and what that means for Catskills tourism, groundwater, and flood risk.</p></li><li><p><strong>Microplastics in snow</strong>: Emerging research on contaminants entering our water systems.</p></li><li><p><strong>Community partnerships</strong>: The Catskill Center’s role in training and outreach.</p></li><li><p><strong>How to get involved</strong>: Simple Tier‑1 measurements with nothing more than a ruler, or level up to advanced lab sampling.</p></li></ul><p>📌 Resources &amp; Links</p><ul><li><p>Learn more or volunteer: <a href="https://xsnow.us" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">x‑snow.us</a></p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Resources and supplies: <a href="https://catskillsvisitorcenter.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">catskillsvisitorcenter.org</a></p></li><li><p>Full episode archive: <a href="https://www.kaatscast.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">kaatscast.com</a></p><p><br></p></li></ul>