Nexus of Land & Water: Dust on Snow – Jeff Derry, Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies

In this engaging talk, Jeff Derry, Director of the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies, shares his personal and professional journey into understanding the impact of dust on snow in Colorado’s mountain regions. What began as a casual observation while skiing evolved into a robust scientific effort to understand how desert dust affects snowmelt, streamflow, and water resources across the state.

Derry explains how dust storms from the Southwest U.S. settle on Colorado’s snowpack, reducing its reflectivity (albedo) and causing it to melt earlier and faster than clean snow. This accelerated melting not only shifts the timing of streamflows but can also reduce the total amount of water entering rivers and reservoirs due to increased evaporation and plant uptake.

He introduces the long-term monitoring efforts led by the Center at the Senator Beck Study Basin and beyond, where weather stations track solar radiation, snowmelt energy balance, and dust layers. These findings inform critical water management decisions for Colorado’s water districts and conservation boards.

With clear visuals and data, Derry shows how dirty snowpack alters the water cycle, emphasizing that while the science is increasingly clear, the solutions are complex and require collaboration across communities, regions, and watersheds.

Topics Covered:

What is dust on snow and where does it come from

How dust reduces snow albedo and accelerates melt

Impacts on streamflow timing and water yield

Monitoring and research by the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies

The role of community and watershed-scale thinking in addressing the problem

Ideal for viewers interested in climate science, snow hydrology, water management, and the future of the American West's water systems.