The authors are testing an experimental solid precipitation sensor at Barrow, the Total Precipitation Sensor (TPS), which represents a departure from the gauge-based approach. This device is designed to overcome the biases associated with gauge turbulence and is installed as part of the U.S. Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Climate Research Facility (ACRF) program. Following an extensive gauge intercomparison project supported by the World Meteorological Organization, measurement of snowfall at Barrow is continued with standard gauges as well as a modified Double Fenced Intercomparison Reference (mDFIR) gauge. NOAA's Climate Reference Network program maintains the mDFIR, which includes the Geonor gauge. A team of researchers from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the Cold Region Research Lab at Fort Wainwright have installed a state of the art snow research station at the Barrow Environmental Observatory including a solid state snow pillow (for measurement of snow water equivalent), ultrasonic depth sensors, a Wyoming snow gauge, and web cameras pointed to graduated snow stakes. Comparison and interpretations of the available data for 2008-09 are shown here. Additional site installations in Alaska will also be described.