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

306, 2013

Mother Nature’s Television

adm_mwobs2013-06-03T08:55:52-04:00June 3rd, 2013|Categories: Historical Posts|

Mother Nature's Television 2013-06-03 08:55:52.000 - Tom Padham, Summit Intern Rainbow after a passing shower Mother Nature provided for plenty of excitement Sunday afternoon as a line of strong storms crossed the summit. Around 4pm the line reached the summit, with heavy rain quickly beginning to fall

106, 2013

A stormy Sunday ahead.

adm_mwobs2013-06-01T18:01:58-04:00June 1st, 2013|Categories: Historical Posts|

A stormy Sunday ahead. 2013-06-01 18:01:58.000 - Brian Fitzgerald, Weather Observer/Education Specialist Seeing Red (=30% of severe t-storms) After a brief day off the summit in order to fight a cold and fever it was back to work for me last night, taking the oh-so-familiar 30 minute

3105, 2013

Heading for 60!

adm_mwobs2013-05-31T15:46:16-04:00May 31st, 2013|Categories: Historical Posts|

Heading for 60! 2013-05-31 15:46:16.000 - Mike Carmon, Weather Observer/Meteorologist Swelling Clouds Summer is in full gear today!Currently, the temperature outside is a balmy 59 degrees F. After the fog cleared this morning, the clouds began to billow, and eventually blossomed into scattered showers and thunderstorms across

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