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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

1003, 2013

Wonderful Weekend Weather

March 10th, 2013|Categories: Historical Posts|

Wonderful Weekend Weather 2013-03-10 17:18:40.000 - Steve Welsh,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist NULL This weekend we have seen literally hundreds of hikers and skiers out making the most of the near perfect conditions. Both days have given us continuous sunshine, although with some high clouds present today, along

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903, 2013

Data Quality

March 9th, 2013|Categories: Historical Posts|

Data Quality 2013-03-09 16:41:52.000 - Mike Carmon,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist This is BAD! Here at the Mount Washington Observatory, a fully-functioning mountaintop weather station, we are only as valuable as the quality data that we collect. Our instruments and observations are our life-blood, and it is a full

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803, 2013

It’s that TIME again…

March 8th, 2013|Categories: Historical Posts|

It's that TIME again... 2013-03-08 17:57:20.000 - Brian Fitzgerald,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist EST left, Zulu right. Here on the rockpile, someone is always watching the clock. That 'someone' is usually the observer on duty who is responsible for starting each hourly observation no earlier than a quarter

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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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Sun, Dog.

November 17th, 2012|Comments Off on Sun, Dog.

Sun, Dog. 2012-11-17 18:09:30.000 - Brian Fitzgerald,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist Sun dogs to our west late Friday afternoon. Well it's been a quiet week here on the Rockpile- my weekly home, perhaps one of the

Spectacular Auroras

November 16th, 2012|Comments Off on Spectacular Auroras

Spectacular Auroras 2012-11-16 19:42:42.000 - Mike Dorfman,  Summit Intern As many facebook fans may have noticed, we had a spectacular aurora display last Tuesday evening (if you aren't on facebook or haven't seen these pictures,

Where has the Wind Gone

November 15th, 2012|Comments Off on Where has the Wind Gone

Where has the Wind Gone 2012-11-15 22:39:11.000 - Steve Welsh,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist NULL The past 24 hours has been one of the calmest periods I can remember up here - the average wind speed

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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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