[ ORBITAL RADAR ] NASA satellite telemetry measuring topsoil saturation across the valley. This detects the "thirst" of the landscape—indicating how much runoff will be absorbed before it can flow.
DECODING THE DATA
Think of the Valley Floor as a giant SPONGE.
0.0 (Bone Dry)0.5 (Saturated)
THIRSTY SOIL (Low #): The sponge is dry. It will drink the snowmelt before it reaches the river. RUNOFF THIEF.
SATURATED SOIL (High #): The sponge is full. Snowmelt flows over the top and into the river. EFFICIENT RUNOFF.
SNOTEL SMS
[ HEADWATERS SATURATION ] Probes buried beneath the mountain snowpack. If these sensors read dry, the high-country soil will drink the snowmelt first, significantly reducing runoff efficiency.