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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

1610, 2016

84 Years Young!

October 16th, 2016|Categories: Historical Posts|

84 Years Young! 2016-10-16 15:25:51.000 - Tom Padham, Weather Observer/Meteorologist   Yesterday, 10/15/2016 was the 84th Anniversary of the founding of the Mount Washington Observatory. In celebration of 84 great years, we offered free tours of our legendary weather station, with a few hundred people able to

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1310, 2016

Dish-Antenna Ice-Break Installation

October 13th, 2016|Categories: Historical Posts|

Dish-Antenna Ice-Break Installation 2016-10-13 23:18:13.000 - Pete Gagne, IT Specialist   Internet and phone service for the Observatory is accomplished with the use of a pair of microwave dishes – one on the summit tower and the other mounted at the Weather Discovery Center in North Conway.

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1010, 2016

A Busy Week on the Summit

October 10th, 2016|Categories: Historical Posts|

A Busy Week on the Summit 2016-10-10 21:35:40.000 - Ben Brownell, Summit Intern   What a busy week it has been on the summit for us here at the observatory! With the fall colors peaking this week and seasonably warm temperatures many people took advantage and came

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Mount Washington Observatory is a nonprofit research and educational institution working to advance understanding of Earth’s weather and climate.

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Winter Returns!

March 16th, 2016|Comments Off on Winter Returns!

Winter Returns! 2016-03-16 17:57:07.000 - Tom Padham, Weather Observer/Meteorologist   Although we’ve seen a very mild winter and little in the way of any deep snowpack in place across the White Mountains, a return to

Shoulder Seasons

March 11th, 2016|Comments Off on Shoulder Seasons

Shoulder Seasons 2016-03-11 17:31:30.000 - Mike Wessler, Summit Intern   With the warm temperatures we’ve been enjoying here at the summit, and the 50’s and 60’s down in the valley and across the state, it’s

Two Years and a Ton of Memories

March 8th, 2016|Comments Off on Two Years and a Ton of Memories

Two Years and a Ton of Memories 2016-03-08 15:55:35.000 - Kaitlyn O'Brien, Co-Director of Summit Operations   What an awesome journey it has been. My first exposure to Mount Washington was a summer internship 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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Did you know you can text ‘weather’ and ‘forecast’ to 603-356-2137 for current weather and conditions?
Alternatively, you can enable our Historical Weather Alexa Skill, or our Alexa Flash Briefing Audio forecast.

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