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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

607, 2012

Let the race season begin

July 6th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Let the race season begin 2012-07-06 22:03:36.000 - Roger Pushor,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist Our two newest sponsors have your feet covered! Let the races to begin here on Mount Washington. This weekend weather permitting will be the running of Newton's Revenge a bike race up the famous

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507, 2012

Summit Adventures – Voted the Best…

July 5th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Summit Adventures - Voted the Best... 2012-07-05 22:25:11.000 - Cara Rudio,  Marketing and Communications Coordinator NULL Mount Washington Observatory's Summit Adventures have been recognized as a 2012 'Editors' Choice' winner in Yankee Magazine's Travel Guide to New England. Hailed as 'Best on-top-of-the-world feeling,' the two-day trips welcome

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407, 2012

A Story About My Volunteer Week That Was

July 4th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

A Story About My Volunteer Week That Was 2012-07-04 23:09:17.000 - Jennifer Goodson,  Summit Volunteer NULL What an incredible experience to live and volunteer on the summit of Mount Washington for a week! I had a fabulous time here and highly recommend this trip to anyone looking

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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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Undercast

March 15th, 2012|Comments Off on Undercast

Undercast 2012-03-15 18:37:03.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Operations Assistant Undercast Picture From This Morning It is not very often here on the summit of Mount Washington that we are out of the clouds for an entire

Mid-April in Mid-March?

March 14th, 2012|Comments Off on Mid-April in Mid-March?

Mid-April in Mid-March? 2012-03-14 23:49:42.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist A shift in scenery on shift change. Today's talking point on the summit was the snow, or lack thereof I should say. When we came

An Incredible Week on the Summit

March 13th, 2012|Comments Off on An Incredible Week on the Summit

An Incredible Week on the Summit 2012-03-13 17:16:19.000 - Lou Milanesi,  Summit Volunteer Blazing Sunrise This is my second time volunteering on Mount Washington. This has been an incredible week. We have experienced 120 MPH

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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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