Dust has a big impact on snowmelt in Utah

Today's Video of the Day from the University of Utah describes how dust deposits impact snow levels across the Wasatch Mountains. The researchers found that a single dust storm in 2017 contributed 50 percent of all the dust for the entire season. The darkened snow on the surface absorbed more sunlight, causing the snow to melt a week earlier. The study is published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. -- By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer Video Credit: University of Utah