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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

1702, 2012

A new Mesonet site comes on-line

February 17th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

A new Mesonet site comes on-line 2012-02-17 23:08:37.000 - Roger Pushor,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist NULL In partnership with Cannon Mountain we have placed a new Weather Station at the top of the Cannonball Chair Lift that'll provide Temperature, Humidity, Wind and Icing data along with Webcam pictures

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1602, 2012

Observer’s Meme

February 16th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Observer's Meme 2012-02-16 21:56:05.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Operations Assistant It seems that recently the hot posting item on Facebook has been "What People Think I do" memes about jobs, schools, states and more. With this being said I thought it was only appropriate for the summit Observers

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1502, 2012

Weather Today was Meh

February 15th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Weather Today was Meh 2012-02-15 23:48:29.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist How gray and dull today looked. Today can be described as...'Meh!' In trying to think of something interesting to write about, all I can think about is how plain and non-descript today was. One of our

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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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A Double Edged Sword

October 29th, 2011|Comments Off on A Double Edged Sword

A Double Edged Sword 2011-10-29 19:44:15.000 - Brian Clark,  Weather Observer/Education Specialist NULL Getting excited about extreme weather events is sometimes a doubleedged sword, of sorts. By that, I mean that often the most interesting

Another day in the office with the best views in the Northeast

October 28th, 2011|Comments Off on Another day in the office with the best views in the Northeast

Another day in the office with the best views in the Northeast 2011-10-28 18:00:25.000 - Roger Pushor,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist View of the Northern Presidentials from the office A few inches of snow and rime

Single Digits

October 27th, 2011|Comments Off on Single Digits

Single Digits 2011-10-27 18:39:33.000 - David Narkewicz,  Summit Intern NULL This week is the first shift of the season that I did not pack my shorts. There is a good reason for that. Temperatures have

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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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