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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

2502, 2012

Kommentar

February 25th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Kommentar 2012-02-25 15:34:12.000 - Mike Carmon,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Danke! If you've been keeping up with the happenings on the summit, you'll know that we've had two separate groups of German students visit us for a week at a time over the past month. Each group of teenage

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2502, 2012

The Challenge of Winter Storm QPF

February 25th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

The Challenge of Winter Storm QPF 2012-02-25 00:28:48.000 - Rick Giard,  Weather Observer / Education Specialist Sounding Via PSU Vortex Anyone who spends much time outdoors in winter playing or working can tell you that snow, and frozen precipitation in general, comes in virtually infinite varieties. Each

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2302, 2012

US Rep. Charlie Bass Visits the MWOBS!

February 23rd, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

US Rep. Charlie Bass Visits the MWOBS! 2012-02-23 16:49:16.000 - Brian Fitzgerald,  Summit Intern Observer Steve Welsh shows wind charts to Mr Bass Today the Observatory played host to our own second congressional district U.S. Representative Charlie Bass. Battling through some challenging conditions, including falling snow, blowing

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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 Notes

November 1st, 2011|Comments Off on Volunteer Notes

Volunteer Notes 2011-11-01 23:05:39.000 - Judy Richardi,  Summit Volunteer NULL It is great to be back on the mountain of mountains! I haven't been here for 5 yrs. and boy have things changed. You can

Calmer Weather

October 31st, 2011|Comments Off on Calmer Weather

Calmer Weather 2011-10-31 17:52:47.000 - David Narkewicz,  Summit Intern Today has been a relatively quiet day around here. As the early season Nor'easter has come and gone, it has allowed for some calmer weather to

A Trick or Treat of a Storm

October 30th, 2011|Comments Off on A Trick or Treat of a Storm

A Trick or Treat of a Storm 2011-10-30 18:54:40.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Weather Observer/Meteorologist Snowfall map of the October storm. When you're a kid, tomorrow (Halloween) was kind of a big deal 'cause it meant

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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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