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

604, 2009

NULL

adm_mwobs2009-04-06T08:21:38-04:00April 6th, 2009|Categories: Historical Posts|

NULL 2009-04-06 08:21:38.000 - Kathy Bennet, Marketing Director, Cranmore Mountain Cranmore Summits Mount WashingtonThe Cranmore Crew took over the Mount Washington Observatory living quarters for the last two days. 7 of us met at the base of the Auto Road yesterday, greeted by the Obs' Cara Rudio

504, 2009

Battle of the seasons

adm_mwobs2009-04-05T10:03:22-04:00April 5th, 2009|Categories: Historical Posts|

Battle of the seasons 2009-04-05 10:03:22.000 - Steve Welsh, IT Observer NULL So April has arrived and the weather is starting to transition. Over the past few days the seasons have been battling for control of the summits. We have seen snow, sleet, freezing rain and rain,

404, 2009

Mystery

adm_mwobs2009-04-04T02:33:45-04:00April 4th, 2009|Categories: Historical Posts|

Mystery 2009-04-04 02:33:45.000 - Mike Carmon, Observer NULL Instead of steering the topic of conversation away from bogus gender-bending felines, story-telling senior executive interns, and fictitious studies done by mysterious professors with names strikingly similar to current observers, I'm going to keep the string of peculiar comments

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