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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

1908, 2006

Bike race…

August 19th, 2006|Categories: Historical Posts|

Bike race... 2006-08-19 14:01:28.000 - Jim Salge,  Observer Parade of pain... I walked through the Observatory’s double doors into the State Park at 6:30AM this morning, and found myself amidst a madhouse. Friends, families and fans of the hundreds of bicycle racers poised to torture themselves for

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1808, 2006

(Not) Kite flying weather…

August 18th, 2006|Categories: Historical Posts|

(Not) Kite flying weather... 2006-08-18 07:32:05.000 - Jim Salge,  Observer Barely kiting from the tower... Dan and Walter spend the night at Lakes two nights ago, and returned early yesterday morning with a kite that they found tangled and crashed among the rocks. Eager to try it

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1708, 2006

Sunrise at a decent time…

August 17th, 2006|Categories: Historical Posts|

Sunrise at a decent time... 2006-08-17 06:42:32.000 - Jim Salge,  Observer Clear sunrise... Fog cleared from the summits early this morning, and the revealed skies were perfectly clear. High pressure now moving in should hold into the weekend, and a few great days are forecast on the

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NULL 2006-03-30 08:15:55.000 - Jim Salge,  Observer The snowcat at halfway... Shift changes in spring are always interesting, as this is the time of year can lead to not only extreme temperature gradients from the

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NULL 2006-03-29 08:07:53.000 - Tim Markle,  Chief Observer The celestial hunting season is drawing to a close. Orion, who has been closely stalking Taurus across the night sky all winter, is now at the western

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NULL 2006-03-27 06:02:25.000 - Neil Lareau,  Observer Indoor Sunrise Green twilight is growing on the horizon and back lighting four evenly spaced and very thin altocumulus standing lenticulars clouds. They are the only clouds in

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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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Alternatively, you can enable our Historical Weather Alexa Skill, or our Alexa Flash Briefing Audio forecast.

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