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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

1509, 2006

What a morning…what a weekend to come!

September 15th, 2006|Categories: Historical Posts|

What a morning...what a weekend to come! 2006-09-15 07:37:23.000 - Jim Salge,  Observer An alpine autumn landscape... I had to look up an official definition of ‘Indian Summer’ this morning, as it is a word that perhaps could describe this coming weekend. While traditionally the term is

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1409, 2006

Fixing computer problems…

September 14th, 2006|Categories: Historical Posts|

Fixing computer problems... 2006-09-14 07:37:47.000 - Mike Davidson,  Valley Staff Torin’s First Day on the Summit I.T. isn't all data centers and crawl-spaces. Yesterday morning I sat atmy desk in North Conway trying to create a weekly backup plan for our newservers when I came upon a

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1209, 2006

Time Keeps Ticking, into the Future

September 12th, 2006|Categories: Historical Posts|

Time Keeps Ticking, into the Future 2006-09-12 04:52:25.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Meteorologist Cool Sunset. 'It’s all about timing.' You may have heard this phrase before whether it’s playing sports, learning how to cook, dancing, or various other activities. The same phrase was used yesterday as we watched

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April 25th, 2006|Comments Off on NULL

NULL 2006-04-25 10:18:00.000 - The Summit Crew,  Mount Washington Observatory NULL It has taken over a year of planning and construction, but today marks the first full day of the Mount Washington Observatory’s new and

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NULL 2006-04-24 07:46:00.000 - Tim Markle,  Chief Observer Cap Cloud and Freezing Rain A complex weather pattern of three areas of low pressure to our west and one strong area of high pressure to our

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NULL 2006-04-22 03:25:20.000 - Neil Lareau,  Observer NULL A modest forest fire ignited today on the northwest flanks of Cascade Mountain near Berlin, NH. A plume of smoke has been visible since then as the

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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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