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

2811, 2007

A Mountain

adm_mwobs2007-11-28T01:34:29-05:00November 28th, 2007|Categories: Historical Posts|

A Mountain 2007-11-28 01:34:29.000 - Kevin Talbot, Summit Volunteer A MWO profile A Mountain I know a mountain that holds a river in its arm;Whose mother-breast keeps tenderly wee, slender birches warm!I know a mountain crowned with laurel, pink and white;That gleams a friendly shadow against the

2611, 2007

Project

adm_mwobs2007-11-26T18:32:58-05:00November 26th, 2007|Categories: Historical Posts|

Project 2007-11-26 18:32:58.000 - Peter Sciola, Summit Intern NULL The shopping season is upon us, shop at our online store today for all your holiday needs!Intern’s log: stardate -315096.5 – The intern tasks of the day: shovel entrances and exits, work on forecast verification project.After returning from

2511, 2007

Shoveling

adm_mwobs2007-11-25T21:01:15-05:00November 25th, 2007|Categories: Historical Posts|

Shoveling 2007-11-25 21:01:15.000 - Aubrie Pace, Summit Intern NULL The Shopping Season is upon us, Shop at the WeatherStore.org Today for all your Holiday Needs!Today, we woke up to howling. The strong western push of the wind was moving the snow, old and new, into every pocket

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