Snowpack is highly variable and no other snow measurement product comes close to the accuracy of ASO

Most ground based snow measurement stations are at or below 10,000 ft. The majority of SWE in late winter snowpack in Colorado is above that elevation.

Spatial variation in snow deposits due to wind, aspect and terrain features are not captured by ground based stations.

ASO measurements have been used to estimate seasonal runoff in snow-dominated basins with single-digit accuracy.

Snow depth and aerial shots from ASO flights in Colorado during springtime.