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

2903, 2008

Blowing Snow

adm_mwobs2008-03-29T21:26:58-04:00March 29th, 2008|Categories: Historical Posts|

Blowing Snow 2008-03-29 21:26:58.000 - Steve Welsh, IT Observer Marty Resting Yesterday we had over six inches of nice fluffy snow and for once, really calm winds. So the entire summit ended the day completely decked in white. This doesn’t happen very often since most snow that

2803, 2008

Correcting a wind gust

adm_mwobs2008-03-28T22:13:25-04:00March 28th, 2008|Categories: Historical Posts|

Correcting a wind gust 2008-03-28 22:13:25.000 - Brian Clark, Observer My Math 148.5144.7At first glance these are just two dimensionless numbers; two numbers with a difference of 3.8 or about 2.6%. Of course, by now you’re probably curious to know what these numbers mean and where I’m

2703, 2008

Surprises and Reflection

adm_mwobs2008-03-27T22:00:49-04:00March 27th, 2008|Categories: Historical Posts|

Surprises and Reflection 2008-03-27 22:00:49.000 - Matthew Morin, Space Grant Intern Crepuscular rays Last night when I looked at the numerical models, I saw that tomorrow morning’s dew point depressions (the temperature minus the dew point) would be 0 to 3 degrees. This usually indicates that the

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