Jim Steenburgh, University of Utah (IMAGE) University of Utah Caption Jim Steenburgh, professor and chair of atmospheric sciences at the University of Utah, skis through powder snow in Days Fork in the Wasatch Range backcountry near Alta, Utah. Steenburgh and one of his students, Trevor Alcott, developed a new simple method to predict snow density -- whether fresh snow is powdery or wet and heavy -- and thus snowfall amounts. The National Weather Service is using the method in its Utah forecasts, and the technique could be adapted for use anywhere. Credit Tyler Cruickshank. Usage Restrictions None License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.