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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

906, 2012

May’s 108.1mph Microburst

June 9th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

May's 108.1mph Microburst 2012-06-09 17:39:36.000 - Christopher Gregg,  Summit Intern Hays wind speed chart showing the event. It's great to be back on the summit. We had a few nice thunderstorms yesterday afternoon; however, they just didn't quite compare to the storms we had on May, 29th.

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806, 2012

A lazy day on the Summit

June 8th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

A lazy day on the Summit 2012-06-08 21:40:11.000 - Marty,  Summit Cat Posing for pictures all day is just so exhausting I have to say I'm just exhausted after spending hours early this morning ridding the Weather room of an infestation of Flying Squirrels and protecting Weather

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706, 2012

Life and Death of a Snowman

June 7th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Life and Death of a Snowman 2012-06-07 19:16:39.000 - Adam Brainard,  Summit Intern Frosty through the ages (days) The following is an inspiring tale of the life and death of one Frosty the snowman; a treasured guest enjoyed by our summit staff the past few days. His

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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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Volunteer Observations

February 22nd, 2012|Comments Off on Volunteer Observations

Volunteer Observations 2012-02-22 00:16:02.000 - Katherine MacDonald,  Summit Volunteer Well, it's Tuesday evening and I'm going to be heading down the rock pile tomorrow. After another wonderful week of volunteering here at the observatory I

Notes From Half a Week on Top

February 20th, 2012|Comments Off on Notes From Half a Week on Top

Notes From Half a Week on Top 2012-02-20 17:23:01.000 - Leslie Schomaker,  Summit Volunteer As trustee (treasurer) and Valley resident, I am often in the Observatories North Conway offices working with the low-level (as in

Winter is flying by!

February 19th, 2012|Comments Off on Winter is flying by!

Winter is flying by! 2012-02-19 23:46:07.000 - Brian Clark,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist NULL This winter really seems to be flying by. I can't believe the calendar is already pushing its way toward March! Although winters

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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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