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

1007, 2007

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adm_mwobs2007-07-10T08:41:22-04:00July 10th, 2007|Categories: Historical Posts|

NULL 2007-07-10 08:41:22.000 - Cathy Radonic, Summit Intern Sunday Sunset... As Lynn mentioned in her comment on our last shift week, our internships are, for the most part, at the half-way mark. Today, as most people are just getting into their weeks, mine is coming to a

907, 2007

Out of the Clouds

adm_mwobs2007-07-09T01:59:49-04:00July 9th, 2007|Categories: Historical Posts|

Out of the Clouds 2007-07-09 01:59:49.000 - Zach Allen, Meteorologist Evening on the rockpile... Greetings from your friendly Mount Washington Observatory night observer!Something wonderful happened as I began the night shift… we broke out of the fog! The summit received more sunlight in the first hour out

707, 2007

Anatomy of a thunderstorm…

adm_mwobs2007-07-07T09:00:41-04:00July 7th, 2007|Categories: Historical Posts|

Anatomy of a thunderstorm... 2007-07-07 09:00:41.000 - Brian Clark, Observer The Thermograph... The most exciting weather event so far this week came yesterday right around noon. Peter Crane, the Director of Programs for the Observatory, who was on the summit with a summer EduTrip came into the

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A note from the downgoing crew…

adm_mwobs2007-02-17T07:31:13-05:00February 17th, 2007|Comments Off on A note from the downgoing crew…

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adm_mwobs2007-02-16T10:02:24-05:00February 16th, 2007|Comments Off on Blizzard in the bunk rooms…

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adm_mwobs2007-02-15T08:37:21-05:00February 15th, 2007|Comments Off on Storm Summary…

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