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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

2206, 2012

Auroras on the Summit

June 22nd, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Auroras on the Summit 2012-06-22 19:35:16.000 - Christopher Gregg,  Summit Intern Auroras to the North of the summit Getting to spend my summer up on Mount Washington, there are a number of things I had expected (or rather hoped) to see over my internship. Snow in parts

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2106, 2012

Summer has ‘officially’ arrived on the Summit

June 21st, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Summer has 'officially' arrived on the Summit 2012-06-21 21:23:12.000 - Roger Pushor,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist NULL Schools out and summer is finally 'officially' here and the Tourist season on the Summit is in full swing. I took a few minutes to drop down to the Museum this

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2006, 2012

Quickie News That Mattered to Me Today

June 20th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Quickie News That Mattered to Me Today 2012-06-20 23:49:30.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Thunderstorm with our weather tower, sunset today. So, rather than focus on any one particular point in this comment, I will call it quickie news of five things that mattered to me today.1.

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The Warmth Cometh

March 6th, 2012|Comments Off on The Warmth Cometh

The Warmth Cometh 2012-03-06 23:45:36.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist MWO's version of the game of 'Cliff Hanger'. 'It IS March after all!' That seems to be today's unofficial motto around the summit. So why

Snow Stalactites

March 5th, 2012|Comments Off on Snow Stalactites

Snow Stalactites 2012-03-05 15:27:06.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Operations Assistant Inside the Snow Cave It is not all too often that we have winds from the south but when we do it makes for some interesting

Falling snow

March 5th, 2012|Comments Off on Falling snow

Falling snow 2012-03-05 00:13:55.000 - Brian Clark,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist Snow crystals on our snow board Today was one of those days that the mountain didn't care what we had written in our Higher Summits

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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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