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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

404, 2015

A Great End To Winter Trip Season!

April 4th, 2015|Categories: Historical Posts|

A Great End To Winter Trip Season! 2015-04-04 19:58:53.000 - Adam Freierman, Summit Intern   Last night at the Observatory our shift hosted our final climbing trip of the season. Throughout the winter it has been a pleasure welcoming climbing trips and educational overnight trips into our

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304, 2015

The Streak Has Ended

April 3rd, 2015|Categories: Historical Posts|

The Streak Has Ended 2015-04-03 19:39:06.000 - Michael Kyle, Weather Observer/IT Specialist   Yesterday at around 7:30 PM the summit’s temperature reached a reading greater than 32°F for the first time in 87 days. That 87 day stretch of below-freezing temperatures is tied for the 5th longest,

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204, 2015

Summer, Then Back to Winter

April 2nd, 2015|Categories: Historical Posts|

Summer, Then Back to Winter 2015-04-02 16:59:51.000 - Mike Carmon, Interim Director of Summit Operations   With the spring season in full swing, those infamous April showers are to be expected, and the next few days will be no exception to that. However, glimpses of winter will

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Stubborn Area of Low Pressure

December 13th, 2014|Comments Off on Stubborn Area of Low Pressure

Stubborn Area of Low Pressure 2014-12-13 14:06:00.000 - Caleb Meute, Weather Observer / Education Specialist   Ski resorts across much of northern New Hampshire made out quite well from the December 9 – December 10

A View From the Afternoon

December 11th, 2014|Comments Off on A View From the Afternoon

A View From the Afternoon 2014-12-11 07:33:48.000 - Joshua Perez, Summit Intern   There’s always been something special about a mountain. That something, however, has yet to be decided. To the Greeks, it was a

My Volunteer Week on the Summit

December 10th, 2014|Comments Off on My Volunteer Week on the Summit

My Volunteer Week on the Summit 2014-12-10 17:39:53.000 - Mike Carrafiello, Summit Volunteer   It has been a hectic week here on the summit. There is major construction activity to renovate all of the Observatory

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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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