SnowEx has been defined as a program initially designed for five years and it is entirely sponsored by NASA. The underlying purpose is to cure the vital gaps involving knowledge about snow remote sensing. Experiments are carried out in NASA SnowEx missions both on-field as well as through air expeditions by incorporating different sensing pieces of equipment. The various forms of snow are studied with the end motive of developing a blueprint for future snow satellite pursuit.

Scope of SnowEx

Currently the SnowEx parts are limited within the boundaries of North America which offers six diverse snow climate zones. These are the Arctic, taiga, warm temperate, maritime, ephemeral, and prairie zones respectively. SnowEx products are implemented to study parameters like wetness and terrain complexity that vary from one snow region to another. All the locations that are chosen are based on the opportunistic approach of the scientists so that they can execute field and airborne efforts. First attempts were made in 2016 when SnowEx allowed ASO operations in Colorado. The experiments were carried out in winter. Other SnowEx parts were added in 2019 as Tundra forests of Canada which further facilitated snow testing in the maritime climate on the northwestern frontier. In the following part of the article, we are going to talk about the various SnowEx products that have provided key insights through international engagement.

SnowEx Products

• The SnowEx products are available for sale on their official e-commerce website. These are attachments that can be fixed in the vehicles to get rid of snow in harsh winters. To start with we have the snowplows. They are installed with a column of heavy-duty straight blades and are designed as per the box plow model. These are v-shaped plows that are engineered in a way so that they can be configured with almost any type of vehicle. The range of vehicles can start from half-ton trucks to heavy-duty class 6 trucks. These SnowEx products serve the purpose of tractor plows as well as skid-steers
• Then the next popular item on their website is the spreader which is semi-manual equipment that is easy to use and efficient. It has promoted the name of SnowEx as an expert in ice control. Spreaders can be used to uniformly distribute alt and direct their deposition to the exact pinpoint position. The rate of operation can also be controlled with the help of a regulator. It is a piece of durable equipment that requires minimum upkeep and is inspired by the poly hopper construction style. It requires very less energy for operation and always stands up to the expectations of users as they spread salt exactly at the place where it is required
• Next comes the liquid ice control cum dispensing systems introduced by the SnowEx. It handles solutions of salt brine, exclusive branded liquids, and calcium chloride brine. SnowEx has launched its advisory programs where one can apply training and material knowledge that is essential to counter ice problems in winter. These programs save money for the applicants by making them self-sufficient so that they can invest in cheap mechanisms and cut off the extra costs of tedious vigilance and manpower
• The last solution for curbing the harsh winter condition has been identified in the form of sidewalks. These are necessary to execute the less focused tasks that complete the circle of winter preventive measures. These activities include rotary brooming, salt sprayer in the backyards and even maintaining a storage bin for salts. All these minute steps help a resident be ready for an upcoming snowstorm
• All the SnowEx products are easy to use and tutorial is provided through procedure videos that are shared on the official website. Also, the user’s manual is provided in the customized maintenance toolbox

Conclusion

SnowEx is a seasonal venture introduced by NASA to understand the potential quantity of water that can be extracted from snow deposits of the tundra region. Many people who live in North America and Europe depend on this water for their drinking purpose and another usage thus NASA’s campaign is focused primarily on these regions. Satellites have been deployed to study the nature of snow covers like depth, temperature, and composition. Based on these findings pieces of equipment have been launched that help the residents in keeping their locality free from ice deposits that hamper communication and transportation in severe winters.