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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

2606, 2012

Summit Volunteers Comment

June 26th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Summit Volunteers Comment 2012-06-26 16:26:21.000 - Christy Keefe and Kelley Brown,  Summit Volunteers Clearing and Undercast Yesterday Afternoon. Hi, I'm Christy and I'm finishing my third volunteer stint here at the summit. I come from Connecticut where I am a teacher. And I'm Kelley, the other volunteer

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2506, 2012

The Fall Internship

June 25th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

The Fall Internship 2012-06-25 23:35:21.000 - Brian Clark,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist NULL Summer just officially started a few days ago, so that means it's time to think about fall interns! Wait, that doesn't sound right, does it? Amazingly enough though it is, to a certain extent. Hiring

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2406, 2012

What Happened to the “garden” in the Alpine Garden

June 24th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

What Happened to the "garden" in the Alpine Garden 2012-06-24 23:33:07.000 - Adam Brainard,  Summit Intern Spring 2012 High Temperatures As many repeat visitors to the summit may have noticed, the garden (for which Alpine Garden trail is named) has been a bit less spectacular this year.

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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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