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

2911, 2019

Dear Santa…

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Dear Santa... 2019-11-29 05:19:26.000 - Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist Dear Santa- Another year has flown by here on the summit of Mt Washington. I hope all is going well with you, the missus, and all your helpers up at the North Pole. I know

2611, 2019

My Internship Comes to an End

adm_mwobs2019-11-26T10:40:13-05:00November 26th, 2019|Categories: Historical Posts|

My Internship Comes to an End 2019-11-26 10:40:13.000 - Ben Charles, Summit Intern It felt like just yesterday was my first day as an intern driving up the road with chains on the truck with my face glued to the window in awe. It has now

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The Snow Storm that Overproduced

adm_mwobs2019-11-25T17:28:18-05:00November 25th, 2019|Categories: Historical Posts|

The Snow Storm that Overproduced 2019-11-25 17:28:18.000 - Adam Gill, Weather Observer/IT Specialist Under predicting snow is pretty rare thing to do up here, especially with the winds that we see, blow over will usually prevent us from getting the full sample of snowfall in a

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