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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

2811, 2015

What I am Thankful For

November 28th, 2015|Categories: Historical Posts|

What I am Thankful For 2015-11-28 09:08:51.000 - Andrew Henry, Summit Intern   With Thanksgiving earlier this week, I have been thinking what I’m thankful for at the Observatory. The first thing I am thankful for is being selected to intern at Mount Washington Observatory. This internship

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2611, 2015

A Happy Thanksgiving On The Summit

November 26th, 2015|Categories: Historical Posts|

A Happy Thanksgiving On The Summit 2015-11-26 22:17:36.000 - Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist   Mount Washington Observatory is a manned weather station that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. We work in two crews for eight days at a

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2511, 2015

Tech Women | Tech Girls – A Week of STEMspiration!

November 25th, 2015|Categories: Historical Posts|

Tech Women | Tech Girls - A Week of STEMspiration! 2015-11-25 18:22:04.000 - Kaitlyn O'Brien, Co-Director of Summit Operations   The NH High Tech Council (NHHTC) Tech Women | Tech Girls launched its first ever Tech Women Ambassadors week-long program, beginning Monday November 16 and concluding Friday

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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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SO MUCH TO EXPERIENCE!

April 15th, 2015|Comments Off on SO MUCH TO EXPERIENCE!

SO MUCH TO EXPERIENCE! 2015-04-15 08:21:09.000 - John Donovan, Summit Volunteer   When you step out of the Snow Cat upon arrival at Mount Washington Observatory the experiences start piling up. Driving almost vertically up

Ramblings from a Volunteer

April 14th, 2015|Comments Off on Ramblings from a Volunteer

Ramblings from a Volunteer 2015-04-14 20:23:57.000 - Gates Ingram, Summit Volunteer   As a Boy Scout it was my first time up Mount Washington with a troop from Dover, NH. I learned very quickly that

Sunny and Mild

April 13th, 2015|Comments Off on Sunny and Mild

Sunny and Mild 2015-04-13 06:28:12.000 - Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Staff Meteorologist   If one had to summarize Monday in three words it would be “sunny and mild.” While these three words will be departing our

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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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