Ground-based discrete snowpack measurements were collected during winter field campaigns starting in 2020. These data were collected as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) Upper Colorado River Basin project focusing on the relation between snow dynamics and water resources. This data release consists of three child items. Each child item contains snow depth, snow density, snow temperature, or snow water equivalent values measured discretely in the field. The data are provided in comma separated value (CSV) files.

Discrete snowpack data were collected during winter field campaigns from 2020 to 2022. These data were collected as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) Upper Colorado River Basin project focusing on the relation between snow dynamics and water resources. After a snow pit was dug, the pit face was analyzed for discrete snowpack measurements. Measurements taken were mass, temperature, and total depth. Using the mass values taken with a density cutter, the snow density and snow water equivalent were calculated. These data are released in a comma separated value file.

Discrete snowpack data were collected during winter field campaigns from 2020 to 2022. These data were collected as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) Upper Colorado River Basin project focusing on the relation between snow dynamics and water resources. After a snow pit was dug, the pit face was analyzed for discrete snowpack measurements. Measurements taken were mass, temperature, and total depth. Using the mass values taken with a density cutter, the snow density and snow water equivalent were calculated. These data are released in a comma separated value file.

Discrete snow depth data were collected during multiple winter campaigns during 2020–22. These data were collected as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) Upper Colorado River Basin project focusing on the relation of snow dynamics and water resources. Snow depth was measured using either an avalanche probe and handheld global positioning system (GPS) unit or a snow depth probe with attached Juniper Systems Geode GPS receiver and a Mesa tablet. These data are released in a comma separated value file.

Discrete snow depth data were collected during multiple winter campaigns during 2020–22. These data were collected as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) Upper Colorado River Basin project focusing on the relation of snow dynamics and water resources. Snow depth was measured using either an avalanche probe and handheld global positioning system (GPS) unit or a snow depth probe with attached Juniper Systems Geode GPS receiver and a Mesa tablet. These data are released in a comma separated value file.

Discrete snow data were collected during multiple winter field campaigns from 2021 to 2022. This data was collected as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) project focusing on the relation between snow dynamics and the water cycle of a basin. A Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) Coring Tube was used to measure snow depth and mass of snow within the core. These values were used to calculate snow density and snow water equivalent of the core. These data were released in a comma separated value file.

Discrete snow data were collected during multiple winter field campaigns from 2021 to 2022. This data was collected as part of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Next Generation Water Observing System (NGWOS) project focusing on the relation between snow dynamics and the water cycle of a basin. A Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) Coring Tube was used to measure snow depth and mass of snow within the core. These values were used to calculate snow density and snow water equivalent of the core. These data were released in a comma separated value file.

This data release includes snow depth and snow water equivalent (SWE) for the water year 2025 during ten separate field campaigns that took place between late December and late May. The field area is comprised of 703 surveyed points in, on the perimeter of, and surrounding six flat field (‘no_slope’) forest openings, four northern hillslope aspect (‘north_slope’) forest openings and four southern hillslope aspect (‘south_slope’) forest openings next to Coal Creek off Coal Bank Pass in the San Juan Mountains in Southwest Colorado, USA. These measurements were taken to look at the relationship between snow accumulation and snowmelt patterns between forest gaps of various sizes and forest edges of various sizes (edge of forest gaps), and to determine how these relationships may modulate based upon hillslope aspect. Canopy metrics, including canopy height, total gap area, mean distance to canopy, canopy closure, leaf area index, non-directional edginess, canopy edginess with a southern aspect, and canopy edginess with a northern aspect were defined using aerial lidar data for the San Juan Mountains. These canopy metrics can be found in an affiliated data release titled, ‘High Resolution Canopy Structure and Density Metrics for Southwest Colorado Derived from 2019 Aerial Lidar.’ They are also included herein for the 703 surveyed points.

This data set was collected during the SnowEx 2020 Intensive Observation Period (IOP) in Grand Mesa, Colorado. These data contain snow water equivalent (SWE) estimates. SWE is derived from Sensors & Software pulseEKKO PRO 1 GHz multi-polarization ground penetrating radar (GPR) two-way travel times. Data were collected at three locations around Grand Mesa IOP snow pits 2N12 and 1S8 (see DOI: 10.5067/DUD2VZEVBJ7S for more details on Grand Mesa IOP snow pits). Data at snow pit 2N12 were acquired on the groomed snowmobile road (CMP1), in the fresh snow behind the snow pit wall (CMP2), and in the right rut of the SUSV track (CMP3). Data at snow pit 1S8 were acquired in the right rut of the SUSV track (CMP1), in the left rut of the SUSV track (CMP2), and in the fresh snow behind the snow pit wall (CMP3). The raw version of these data (DOI: 10.5067/CL5ZRBCEF8G3) are also archived at NSIDC.