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

1711, 2016

A 50-Degree Swing

adm_mwobs2016-11-17T14:02:52-05:00November 17th, 2016|Categories: Historical Posts|

A 50-Degree Swing 2016-11-17 14:02:52.000 - Mike Carmon, Senior Weather Observer & Education Specialist Fall 2016 continues to be a chaotic one in New England, and another abrupt change is on the way—perhaps one of the most extreme of the season yet! A strong ridge of

1511, 2016

So Close, Yet So Far Away

adm_mwobs2016-11-15T17:40:53-05:00November 15th, 2016|Categories: Historical Posts|

So Close, Yet So Far Away 2016-11-15 17:40:53.000 - Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist We take safety very seriously up on the summit. While the nearest hospital is only about 15 miles as the raven flies, unlike the ravens that soar around the summit, we don’t

1211, 2016

A Warm up on the Way, but First More 100 mph Winds?

adm_mwobs2016-11-12T15:31:04-05:00November 12th, 2016|Categories: Historical Posts|

A Warm up on the Way, but First More 100 mph Winds? 2016-11-12 15:31:04.000 - Tom Padham, Weather Observer/Meteorologist After seeing our first 100 mph winds of the month of November along with our coldest temperature of the fall at 4°F a big warm up is

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