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

1907, 2012

Variable visibility?

adm_mwobs2012-07-19T18:20:48-04:00July 19th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

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 opportunity to be able to familiarize myself with the surrounding peaks and

1807, 2012

A Volunteers Reflections

adm_mwobs2012-07-18T23:20:34-04:00July 18th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

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 mountain east of the Mississippi and north of the Carolina's, cooking, doing

1707, 2012

Science in the Mountains

adm_mwobs2012-07-17T16:56:11-04:00July 17th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Science in the Mountains 2012-07-17 16:56:11.000 - Rebecca Scholand, Weather Observer/Education Specialist NULL Wednesday July 18th the Mount Washington Observatory will be offering its second program for Science in the Mountains: A Passport to Science. This fun and exciting lecture series if free to the public and

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Comments from Volunteers

adm_mwobs2012-03-27T16:32:05-04:00March 27th, 2012|Comments Off on Comments from Volunteers

Comments from Volunteers 2012-03-27 16:32:05.000 - Connie & Werner Griesshammer, Summit Volunteers NULL This was our second time as volunteers. What a week it was up here! The weather put on quite an elaborate show

Marty’s Thoughts

adm_mwobs2012-03-26T17:11:59-04:00March 26th, 2012|Comments Off on Marty’s Thoughts

Marty's Thoughts 2012-03-26 17:11:59.000 - Marty, Summit Cat Purrfect Pillow Meow from the summit of Mount Washington!At 5PM on Monday, March, 26th, the summit was in the fog, and I still didn't care, because you

Weekly Weather Summary March 18-24

adm_mwobs2012-03-25T13:46:36-04:00March 25th, 2012|Comments Off on Weekly Weather Summary March 18-24

Weekly Weather Summary March 18-24 2012-03-25 13:46:36.000 - Rick Giard, Weather Observer / Education Specialist Weather Mar. 18-24 WEEKLY WEATHER SUMMARYMarch 18-24, 2012The big weather story this week was five days of record-setting high temperatures.