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

1411, 2008

Website Changes

adm_mwobs2008-11-14T05:07:55-05:00November 14th, 2008|Categories: Historical Posts|

Website Changes 2008-11-14 05:07:55.000 - Staff, Mount Washington Observatory NULL As you see, we’ve made quite a few changes and upgrades to our website! We hope that you enjoy what you see. More on that in a moment.Please note that our web server is also being upgraded

1211, 2008

Volunteers

adm_mwobs2008-11-12T14:04:55-05:00November 12th, 2008|Categories: Historical Posts|

Volunteers 2008-11-12 14:04:55.000 - Summit Volunteers, NULL NULL Over many years and countless trips here, whether walking, driving or riding, I've made a point of paying my respects to Lizzie Bourne. She was a 23yr. old girl from Maine who died here, within view of the summit,

1111, 2008

Average October

adm_mwobs2008-11-11T23:05:26-05:00November 11th, 2008|Categories: Historical Posts|

Average October 2008-11-11 23:05:26.000 - Ryan Knapp, Staff Meteorologist NULL According to the summit dictionary, one of the definitions for “average” is: lacking special distinction, rank, or status; commonly encountered. Some synonyms listed with “average” are: common, customary, ordinary, standard, or usual. I almost want to write

Previous 108510861087 Next

Support Us

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

We cannot do this without your support!

VOLUNTEER

DONATE NOW