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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

2609, 2014

Sweat + Summit + Sunrise = Science!

September 26th, 2014|Categories: Historical Posts|

Sweat + Summit + Sunrise = Science! 2014-09-26 19:17:00.000 - Kaitlyn O`Brien, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   This morning, we observed an interesting phenomenon that frequently occurs on the summit. If you checked in with our Current Summit Conditions shortly after sunrise today, you may have noticed a

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2509, 2014

Yet Another Unusual Day on the Summit

September 25th, 2014|Categories: Historical Posts|

Yet Another Unusual Day on the Summit 2014-09-25 18:58:00.000 - Mike Dorfman, Weather Observer/IT Specialist   When I woke up I was surprised to see relative humidity in the single digits at justfour percent, all thanks to a high pressure system pushing down over the region. Aftera

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2409, 2014

Under Pressure!

September 24th, 2014|Categories: Historical Posts|

Under Pressure! 2014-09-24 20:03:00.000 - Kaitlyn O`Brien, Weather Observer/Education Specialist   High pressure has moved in and will be hanging around for the next few days, bringing beautiful conditions to the higher summits. In fact, today's pressure reading topped out at 824.03 millibars, which falls within the

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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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Sunny Skies Ahead

June 7th, 2014|Comments Off on Sunny Skies Ahead

Sunny Skies Ahead 2014-06-07 11:59:57.000 - Arielle Ahrens,  Summit Intern NULL Week two began with a staff retreat where both shifts and even the valley staff came up to the summit to attend a day-long

Instruments Here on the Summit

June 6th, 2014|Comments Off on Instruments Here on the Summit

Instruments Here on the Summit 2014-06-06 16:42:09.000 - Mike Dorfman,  Weather Observer Not a Bad Office View this Morning It constantly amazes me how many different instruments we have here on the summit to measure

Mount Washington is Calling You!

June 5th, 2014|Comments Off on Mount Washington is Calling You!

Mount Washington is Calling You! 2014-06-05 16:32:48.000 - Kaitlyn O`Brien,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist View of the Summit from Boott Spur Trail I can't believe it's already June! It's amazing how quickly the time passes, especially

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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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