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

1301, 2009

Distance learning launch

adm_mwobs2009-01-13T18:26:10-05:00January 13th, 2009|Categories: Historical Posts|

Distance learning launch 2009-01-13 18:26:10.000 - Stacey Kawecki, Observer Unrelated to the comment, but beautiful moonset! '30 seconds!' The words everyone on shift wants to hear as they all, painfully, sit without chairs against the wall. It feels like an eternity, your knees start to tremble, your

1201, 2009

Shift Swaps

adm_mwobs2009-01-12T23:18:21-05:00January 12th, 2009|Categories: Historical Posts|

Shift Swaps 2009-01-12 23:18:21.000 - Mike Carmon, Observer Pileus Cloud A few weeks ago, Mike Finnegan wrote a comment about his thoughts on switching shifts. For better or for worse, members of a shift get to know each other well, develop a rapport with each other, and

1101, 2009

Plymouth State intern Ross Fessenden

adm_mwobs2009-01-11T11:53:24-05:00January 11th, 2009|Categories: Historical Posts|

Plymouth State intern Ross Fessenden 2009-01-11 11:53:24.000 - Ross Fessenden, Summit Intern We can see the Northern Presidentials! Hello. My name is Ross Fessenden and I am a Plymouth State junior majoring in meteorology and interning here at the summit of Mount Washington. So far it has

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