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Mount Washington Observatory

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

2206, 2020

So Long Mount Washington Observatory!

June 22nd, 2020|Categories: Historical Posts|

So Long Mount Washington Observatory! 2020-06-22 15:38:58.000 - Ian Bailey, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   It’s crazy to think that it has been 2 years since I returned to the Observatory as an Education Specialist. What’s even crazier, however, is that this will be the last blog post

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1606, 2020

Right Back At It Again!

June 16th, 2020|Categories: Historical Posts|

Right Back At It Again! 2020-06-16 13:02:37.000 - Nicole Tallman, Weather Observer/ Education Speacialist   May 2017 I began my adventure on Mount Washington as a summer intern who had never been to New Hampshire let alone the summit before. All it took was one day on

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Mount Washington Observatory is a nonprofit research and educational institution working to advance understanding of Earth’s weather and climate.

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Instrumentation by the Decade: The 50’s

June 26th, 2019|Comments Off on Instrumentation by the Decade: The 50’s

Instrumentation by the Decade: The 50's 2019-06-26 07:38:03.000 - Charlie Peachey, IT Intern   The 50’s were another busy period of time in Mount Washington history. The U.S Army and Navy were working on a

Alpine Foliage

June 24th, 2019|Comments Off on Alpine Foliage

Alpine Foliage 2019-06-24 09:00:31.000 - Benjamin Charles, Summit Intern   Here at Mount Washington we are home of the world’s worst weather, where we experience some of the harshest winters in the world with the

All Cooped Up

June 23rd, 2019|Comments Off on All Cooped Up

All Cooped Up 2019-06-23 07:54:43.000 - Austin Patrick, Summit Intern   Events much like the weather are unique on top of the summit. For the past couple of weeks, we have seen many different groups

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Mount Washington Observatory is a private, nonprofit, member-supported institution with a mission to advance understanding of the natural systems that create Earth’s weather and climate. It serves this mission by maintaining a weather station on the summit of Mount Washington, performing weather and climate research, conducting innovative science education programs, and interpreting the heritage of the Mount Washington region. Our weather station is located  on the summit of Mount Washington  in New Hampshire, at Mount Washington State Park.

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Alternatively, you can enable our Historical Weather Alexa Skill, or our Alexa Flash Briefing Audio forecast.

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