Senator Beck Study Plot a few days before reaching "Snow All Gone"

Chris Landry beginning the collection process, measuring a 0.5m2 sample of the merged dust layers on the snow surface at Swamp Angel Study Plot. Dust in this sample weighed 50g/m2; The albedo was 0.35 as compared to 0.28 for bare ground at this site.

Collecting a 0.5m2 sample of the merged dust layers on the snow surface at Swamp Angel Study Plot. Dust in this sample weighed 50g/m2; The albedo was 0.35 as compared to 0.28 for bare ground at this site.

Collecting a 0.5m2 sample of the merged dust layers on the snow surface at Swamp Angel Study Plot. Dust in this sample weighed 50g/m2; The albedo was 0.35 as compared to 0.28 for bare ground at this site.

Snow pit face at Swamp Angel Study Plot with most dust layers merged just below the fresh snow.

Andrew Temple looking WSW from Peak 13,510' on the western boundary of Senator Beck Basin. The same photo was taken in May 2009 for comparison.

View looking westward from Peak 13,510' down to Telluride on the western boundary of Senator Beck Basin. 

Andrew Temple pointing to the difference between dusty snow surface and cleaner snow on the left that is overlying the dust layer.

Dusty snow surface with cleaner snow on the left that continues to overlay the dust layer.

Andrew Temple skis through dust-induced surface roughness towards Senator Beck Study Plot

Dust-induced surface roughness near Senator Beck Study Plot

Swamp Angel Study Plot with WY D9 dust event at the surface. Most other dust layers have merged underneath.

Clean wind-blown snow cover over dust layer near Senator Beck Basin Study Plot.

Snow pit face at Swamp Angel Study Plot, with D6 dust layer being the most prominent.

Pit face at Swamp Angel Study Plot after collecting samples. The most prominent dust layer is the D6 dust event that measured 47g/m2.

Swamp Angel Study Plot with fresh snow overlying D8 dust event.

Andrew Temple digs a pit at Swamp Angel Study Plot shortly after the D8 dust event.

Dust event D8 at the surface at Swamp Angel Study Plot.

Depiction of the amount of dust in the WY 2013 D6 event (April 8) as measured at Swamp Angel Study Plot. The dust for this photo was collected at one of the source areas in the Little Colorado River basin.

Andrew Temple skis out from Swamp Angel Study Plot hauling the D6 snow samples in orange trash bags.

Dust event D6 in the snowpack, 1 day after the dust event with clean snow on top.

Sampling dust event D6 (April 8). Sample size is 0.5m2 of snow surface.

Sampling dust event D6 (April 8). Sample size is 0.5m2 of snow surface.

Sampling dust event D6 (April 8). Sample size is 0.5m2 of snow surface.

Silverton, CO: Dust was evident on cars the morning after the D6 dust event. Clean snow fell immediately after the dust event.

Silverton, CO: Dust was evident on cars the morning after the D6 dust event. Clean snow fell immediately after the dust event.

View from Silverton, CO during the D6 dust storm.

View from Silverton, CO during the D6 dust storm.

View from Silverton, CO during the D6 dust storm.

View from Silverton, CO during the D6 dust storm.

Manually measuring snow water equivalent (SWE). Measurements continue to the bottom of the snowpack.

Sampling snowpack for dust after the D5 dust event

Uplooking radiometers at Swamp Angel Study Plot.