page_title: SNOTEL
section_title: Meteor burst technology
hierarchical_section_title: SNOTEL / Meteor burst technology
caption_attribution_description: English: Meteor burst communications as used by SNOTEL. Français&#160;: Propagation radio continentale lorsque le parcours entre l’émetteur et le récepteur est en vue des traînées météoriques
context_page_description: SNOTEL is an automated system of snowpack and related climate sensors operated by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture in the Western United States.
  There are over 730 SNOTEL sites in 11 states, including Alaska. The sites are generally located in remote high-mountain watersheds where access is often difficult or restricted. Access for maintenance by the NRCS includes various modes from hiking and skiing to helicopters.
  All SNOTEL sites measure snow water content, accumulated precipitation, and air temperature. Some sites also measure snow depth, soil moisture and temperature, wind speed, solar radiation, humidity, and atmospheric pressure. These data are used to forecast yearly water supplies, predict floods, and for general climate research.
context_section_description: SNOTEL uses meteor burst communications technology to collect and communicate data in near-real-time. VHF radio signals are reflected at a steep angle off the ever-present band of ionized meteors existing from about 50 to 75 miles (80 to 120 km) above the earth. Satellites are not involved; the NRCS operates and controls the entire system.
  Sites are designed to operate unattended and without maintenance for a year. They are battery powered with solar cell recharge. The condition of each site is monitored daily when it reports on 8 operational functions. Serious problems or deteriorating performance trigger a response from the NRCS electronics technicians located in six data collection offices.
  The SNOTEL sites are polled by 2 master stations operated by NRCS in Boise, Idaho, and Ogden, Utah. A central computer at the NRCS's National Water and Climate Center (NWCC) in Portland, Oregon controls system operations and receives the data collected by the SNOTEL network.
caption: SNOTEL sites make use of meteor burst communications technology
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