Lasers in the sky: hi-tech missions track record snowpack loss in US west

Data from high-tech missions shows a record snowpack loss in the US west, raising alarm among experts, with critically low snowpack on mountains across the region. The Sierra Nevada mountains appear to be draped in a pristine white blanket, but sensors onboard a specialized aircraft prove that looks can be deceiving. This is a distinct dry year, according to Tom Painter, CEO of Airborne Snow Observatories.