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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

1211, 2012

Another quiet day on the ‘Rock’ Pile

November 12th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Another quiet day on the 'Rock' Pile 2012-11-12 21:33:40.000 - Roger Pushor,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist NULL It has been a day with moderate winds, high thin clouds with lots of sun, and unseasonably warm temperatures. In fact, today we broke the daily record high temperature of 44

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1111, 2012

An Indian summit summer

November 11th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

An Indian summit summer 2012-11-11 18:04:07.000 - Stephen Lanciani,  Summit Intern Friday's scence will NOT be the case tomorrow! Here on the summit, simply put, it is cold...usually. As a fall intern, I expected to see temperatures in the 40s and 50s in August and September, then

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1011, 2012

Snowfall Contest

November 10th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Snowfall Contest 2012-11-10 17:51:22.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist Jackson Covered Bridge As winter is engulfing the summit and starting to spread into the valley, the Mount Washington Observatory has partnered with the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce (JACC) for a snowfall contest.Tickets for this event

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Twas the Night Before Seek

July 20th, 2012|Comments Off on Twas the Night Before Seek

Twas the Night Before Seek 2012-07-20 18:38:51.000 - Adam Brainard,  Summit Intern Seek the Peak is Tomorrow! Twas the night before Seek and across the great peakthe day shift was quiet and soon fast-asleep.The instruments

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July 19th, 2012|Comments Off on Variable visibility?

Variable visibility? 2012-07-19 18:20:48.000 - Christopher Gregg,  Summit Intern Mont Ham and Killington. Over the past few weeks I have found myself enamored with the view around the summit of Mount Washington. I've had to

A Volunteers Reflections

July 18th, 2012|Comments Off on A Volunteers Reflections

A Volunteers Reflections 2012-07-18 23:20:34.000 - Beth Daniels,  Summit Volunteer The view to our south. Top of Mount Washington for a week, what a treat! I was lucky to spend a week on the tallest

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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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