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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

903, 2017

Winter has Returned! For now

March 9th, 2017|Categories: Historical Posts|

Winter has Returned! For now 2017-03-09 16:32:15.000 - Adam Gill, Weather Observer/IT Specialist   Today we have winds that have well exceeded the century mark with a peak gust of 119 mph! For a short period of time, we were even sustained over 100 mph for about

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703, 2017

Mt Washington Backcountry Ski Festival

March 7th, 2017|Categories: Historical Posts|

Mt Washington Backcountry Ski Festival 2017-03-07 04:49:21.000 - The Observatory Staff, Mount Washington Observatory   If you are in the Mount Washington Valley this coming weekend, March 11-12, 2017, our friend Mark Synnott of Synnott Mountain Guides will be hosting the First Annual Mt Washington Backcountry Ski

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603, 2017

Mount Washington-Home of the Country’s Least Sunshine?

March 6th, 2017|Categories: Historical Posts|

Mount Washington-Home of the Country’s Least Sunshine? 2017-03-06 10:31:30.000 - Nathan Flinchbaugh, Summit Intern   If you’re lucky enough, you’ve had the opportunity to stand on the summit and experience the amazing view that stretches 130 miles, offering views of the Atlantic and nearby Canada. And if

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Picture Perfecting

July 24th, 2016|Comments Off on Picture Perfecting

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Last Night’s Thunderstorms & an Explanation of Lenticular Clouds

July 23rd, 2016|Comments Off on Last Night’s Thunderstorms & an Explanation of Lenticular Clouds

Last Night’s Thunderstorms & an Explanation of Lenticular Clouds 2016-07-23 12:20:47.000 - Tim Greene, Summit Intern                   We often see lenticular clouds at the Observatory, but yesterday evening we got to see a less

Where does the weather come from?

July 21st, 2016|Comments Off on Where does the weather come from?

Where does the weather come from? 2016-07-21 17:40:37.000 - Christopher Hohman, Summer Intern   When we’re in grade school we all learn about the beautifully simple water cycle as the explanation to every storm forming

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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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