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

2303, 2013

Spring on Mount Washington? What’s that?

adm_mwobs2013-03-23T17:28:38-04:00March 23rd, 2013|Categories: Historical Posts|

Spring on Mount Washington? What's that? 2013-03-23 17:28:38.000 - Brian Fitzgerald, Weather Observer/Education Specialist One iced-up snowcat. It may be spring on the calendar, but up here on the rock pile today's temperatures have struggled to make it out of the upper single digits above zero with

2203, 2013

Why Are We Up Here?

adm_mwobs2013-03-22T17:35:08-04:00March 22nd, 2013|Categories: Historical Posts|

Why Are We Up Here? 2013-03-22 17:35:08.000 - Mike Dorfman, Summit Intern Rime Ice Buildup on the Summit One of the many questions that we get up here on the summit is 'Why do you need to hire people to live on the summit when you can

2103, 2013

Where’s the Road?

adm_mwobs2013-03-21T22:12:14-04:00March 21st, 2013|Categories: Historical Posts|

Where's the Road? 2013-03-21 22:12:14.000 - Mike Carmon, Weather Observer/Meteorologist Drifted 5-mile The second time was the charm for yesterday's shift change.Coming up the Auto Road on Wednesday morning, after the summit had received another two feet of snow with the Tuesday/Wednesday Nor'easter, we knew our chances

Previous 600601602 Next

Support Us

Mount Washington Observatory is a nonprofit research and educational institution working to advance understanding of Earth’s weather and climate.

We cannot do this without your support!

VOLUNTEER

DONATE NOW

Distance Learning in Mexico!

adm_mwobs2012-11-29T17:26:24-05:00November 29th, 2012|Comments Off on Distance Learning in Mexico!

Distance Learning in Mexico! 2012-11-29 17:26:24.000 - Brian Fitzgerald, Weather Observer/Education Specialist Brian explaining the Thermograph. Last month we were able to offer our first Distance Learning Program live from the summit of Mount Washington

Back in Action

adm_mwobs2012-11-28T23:40:37-05:00November 28th, 2012|Comments Off on Back in Action

Back in Action 2012-11-28 23:40:37.000 - Mike Carmon, Weather Observer/Meteorologist NULL After three weeks away from work, one can certainly gain a whole new perspective.I expected to return from vacation to a summit caked in

Thanksgiving on the Rockpile…

adm_mwobs2012-11-27T23:03:38-05:00November 27th, 2012|Comments Off on Thanksgiving on the Rockpile…

Thanksgiving on the Rockpile... 2012-11-27 23:03:38.000 - Stephen Lanciani, Summit Intern NULL For every Thanksgiving since I entered this world, I have spent the day with my family. I knew that one year however, I