Citizen Science Puts Weather Reporting in Your Hands

A distant shower falls over Mount Martha, NH (aka, Cherry Mountain).

If you’re anything like me, you probably have an app or two dedicated to weather on your phone. Maybe you have a preferred app for weather forecasts, another for radar data, and yet another for satellite data. Or maybe instead of apps, you have several go-to websites bookmarked for various weather data.

Weather information keeps us informed so that we can prepare appropriately for the weather ahead, short-term or long-term. With colder weather in the forecast, we might pack a few extra layers or pull in a few more logs for the stove. Or, we might receive a warning about a severe storm heading your direction, and so we pack up, head indoors, and keep an eye on its progress.

While your favorite apps or websites might be providing you with weather data, did you know there are a few apps/sites that you can utilize and provide current weather data to aid in research as a citizen scientist?

Here are some apps that I have on my phone and might be of interest to you:

Mountain Rain or Snow

Remote sensing is improving and aiding in filling weather data gaps. However, precipitation phase changes can be difficult over mountainous terrain, and weather stations only provide information at a static location. That is where human observations aid in detailing how precipitation phase changes vary in time and space. Using these apps, with a few taps you can send observations of precipitation during storms at your location.

Forecasting

NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory is collecting weather reports through the free app mPING. What’s “mPING?” It is an acronym for Meteorological Phenomena Identification Near the Ground. The data in turn help define the precipitation that is falling at your location and improve forecasts and radar techniques. That in turn filters down to improve those various other weather apps you might be using for forecasts and radar data.

Cloud Types and Sky Conditions

GLOBE Observer Clouds can be used to observe clouds, mosquito habitats, land cover, and trees. With the cloud observation aspect, you can help document cloud cover, cloud types, cloud opacity, sky conditions, visibilities, and surface conditions along with photographic examples. It is a bit more involved than the prior reporting apps, but with a few taps and snaps, you can contribute your real-world observations for better understanding and interpretation of satellite data vs surface data.

Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer & Meteorologist

206, 2009

Hermit Lake plug

adm_mwobs2009-06-02T06:11:11-04:00June 2nd, 2009|Categories: Historical Posts|

Hermit Lake plug 2009-06-02 06:11:11.000 - Cara Rudio, Marketing and Communications Coordinator NULL It's not every day that an accomplished scientist welcomes the general public to tag along on a research expedition, but this weekend that is exactly what we're inviting you to do.Join Biologist Scott Smyers

106, 2009

Winter returns

adm_mwobs2009-06-01T05:25:04-04:00June 1st, 2009|Categories: Historical Posts|

Winter returns 2009-06-01 05:25:04.000 - Mike Carmon, Observer and Meteorologist Winter Returns! Stubborn is a word that comes to mind when I think of winter. The most cold and callous season of the year has decided once again to rear its stubborn head, making a (somewhat unwelcome)

3105, 2009

Hailstone Ice Cream

adm_mwobs2009-05-31T09:14:34-04:00May 31st, 2009|Categories: Historical Posts|

Hailstone Ice Cream 2009-05-31 09:14:34.000 - Amy Terborg, Summit Intern Aftermath of the Hailstorm Yesterday was my first chance to see a thunderstorm from the summit. We were literally inside the storm! One minute it was raining the next there was lima bean seed sized hail bouncing

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