• A black truck with the words Great Lakes Research Center and the Michigan Tech logo on the back drives away down a snowy road with an isotopic analyzer mounted in the truck bed.

    Where Water Goes, Snow Follows: MTU Research Scientist Develops Novel Approach to Lake-effect Snow Forecasting

    With breakthrough new technology that measures water isotopes on the move, Michigan Tech research scientist Ben Kopec and his team are driving, boating and snowmobiling around the Keweenaw to help make lake-effect snow more predictable. In the Keweenaw Peninsula, home to Michigan Technological University, lake-effect snow is par for the course. When the annual snowfall average is more than 200 inches, Keweenaw residents know to expect high volumes of snow between the months of October and March. But without adequate weather radar systems in the area, specific winter precipitation events can be notoriously difficult to predict.

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Unscripted science rolls off the tongue. Welcome to a venue where we informally talk about campus research. Here, we discuss breaking news, technology trends, behind-the-scenes progress, and just plain geek out.