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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

2211, 2014

Blowing Snow on the Summit

November 22nd, 2014|Categories: Historical Posts|

Blowing Snow on the Summit 2014-11-22 17:42:36.000 - Michael Dorfman, Weather Observer/IT Specialist   Mount Washington is in the fog around 60 percent of the year, but fog isn’t the only thing that can reduce visibility here on the summit. Blowing snow occurs quite frequently in the

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2111, 2014

Novemburrrrr!

November 21st, 2014|Categories: Historical Posts|

Novemburrrrr! 2014-11-21 15:45:06.000 - Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Meteorologist   One month from today (Sunday, December 21), astronomical winter begins for the Northern Hemisphere. However it seems winter didn’t look at the calendar this year and decided to jump the gun bringing winter a month early for most

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2011, 2014

All You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Lake Effect Snow

November 20th, 2014|Categories: Historical Posts|

All You've Ever Wanted to Know About Lake Effect Snow 2014-11-20 22:21:02.000 - Kaitlyn O'Brien, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   All eyes have shifted to western New York, where areas of the state have received crippling lake effect snow (and it's not over yet!). But what exactly is

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Science in the Mountains: Forecasting Wind Gusts on the Summit

July 29th, 2014|Comments Off on Science in the Mountains: Forecasting Wind Gusts on the Summit

Science in the Mountains: Forecasting Wind Gusts on the Summit 2014-07-29 18:29:38.000 - Tom Padham,  Weather Observer NULL Our Science In the Mountains lecture series continues tomorrow at the Weather Discovery Center in North Conway,

First Time As A Summit Volunteer

July 28th, 2014|Comments Off on First Time As A Summit Volunteer

First Time As A Summit Volunteer 2014-07-28 18:31:28.000 - Rich Sullivan,  Summit Volunteer NULL To begin, I need to thank my wife and children for allowing me this time to fulfill my desire to spend

Snow In July?

July 27th, 2014|Comments Off on Snow In July?

Snow In July? 2014-07-27 19:52:18.000 - Michael Kyle,  Weather Observer With the unofficial holiday of Christmas in July passing just two days back, it made me wonder if there has ever been a white Christmas

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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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