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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

2612, 2019

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Summit!

December 26th, 2019|Categories: Historical Posts|

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from the Summit! 2019-12-26 11:17:41.000 - Ian Bailey, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   Season’s Greetings everyone! If you celebrate the holidays, hopefully you had a safe and happy time! Or perhaps it was a super nice Wednesday in general! Here at the top

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1712, 2019

Ending My Internship With Some Extreme Weather!

December 17th, 2019|Categories: Historical Posts|

Ending My Internship With Some Extreme Weather! 2019-12-17 10:20:03.000 - Laura Kee, Summit Intern     My time as an intern on the summit has flown by and I couldn’t be more grateful to have had such an incredible opportunity to fulfill this dream of mine. In

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712, 2019

The Polar Vortex, El Nino, and This Winter’s Outlook

December 7th, 2019|Categories: Historical Posts|

The Polar Vortex, El Nino, and This Winter's Outlook 2019-12-07 14:31:28.000 - Ian Bailey, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   Recently I did an interview with New Hampshire's WNTK News-Talk radio that was a lot of fun! I spoke with Jason the interviewer at length about several "buzz word"

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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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Looking like spring?

March 29th, 2019|Comments Off on Looking like spring?

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In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb?

March 23rd, 2019|Comments Off on In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb?

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb? 2019-03-23 20:33:43.000 - Taylor Regan, Weather Observer/Research Specialist   “In like a lion, out like a lamb.” It’s a common saying, and one that is often ascribed

Wild Places

March 23rd, 2019|Comments Off on Wild Places

Wild Places 2019-03-23 10:37:51.000 - Bill Ofsiany, Summit Volunteer   I like going outside. I do it every day, often two or three times a day while volunteering on the summit. I call it my

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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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