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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

1107, 2012

Science in the Mountains Summer Lecture Series

July 11th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Science in the Mountains Summer Lecture Series 2012-07-11 14:18:03.000 - Brian Clark,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist NULL Science in the Mountains Summer Lecture Series presents Rebecca Scholand, Mount Washington Observatory weather observer and education specialist at 7 p.m. at our Weather Discovery Center, North Conway. What exactly is

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1007, 2012

55 mph Up Here vs. Down There

July 10th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

55 mph Up Here vs. Down There 2012-07-10 16:53:56.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist This is what 55 mph looks like up here. It's Tuesday, which means tomorrow we will be heading home; something I think we all look forward to since it means six days off

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807, 2012

Tours on the Summit

July 8th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Tours on the Summit 2012-07-08 18:38:35.000 - Christopher Gregg,  Summit Intern Chris and Marty in front of the weather wall. There are a number of tasks that myself and fellow intern, Adam Brainard, share during the week. We work on different data entry projects, make and record

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Another day, another record.

March 22nd, 2012|Comments Off on Another day, another record.

Another day, another record. 2012-03-22 15:52:33.000 - Brian Fitzgerald,  Summit Intern Great Gulf, 3-22-12 Today's old daily record temperature never stood a chance even at 12:01 this morning- so far the mercury has failed to

Turn the heat up! Wait; it’s already cranked.

March 21st, 2012|Comments Off on Turn the heat up! Wait; it’s already cranked.

Turn the heat up! Wait; it's already cranked. 2012-03-21 22:45:42.000 - Mike Carmon,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Northern Prezis in May...err...March Today was a near-historic day on the summit.The theme of the past few comments has been

Sharing the Heat

March 20th, 2012|Comments Off on Sharing the Heat

Sharing the Heat 2012-03-20 23:05:38.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Sunrise on the first day of Astronomical Spring. There were two big noteworthy things for today: our temperatures and a new website feature. The first

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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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