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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

3001, 2012

How much snow is really on the summit?

January 30th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

How much snow is really on the summit? 2012-01-30 17:34:16.000 - Brian Fitzgerald,  Summit Intern NULL So begins my second week on the summit as the 'esteemed winter intern'. With projects, radio reports, and many visitors frequenting the Observatory it's actually easy to forget that I'm sitting

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2901, 2012

Weekly Weather Summary January 22-28

January 29th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

Weekly Weather Summary January 22-28 2012-01-29 21:56:50.000 - Rick Giard,  Weather Observer / Education Specialist Weather 1/22-1/28 WEEKLY WEATHER SUMMARYJanuary 22-28Once again this week the frequency and intensity of weather disturbances approached normal midwinter levels. However, with temperatures well above long term climatology, a significant share of

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2801, 2012

We are back on line

January 28th, 2012|Categories: Historical Posts|

We are back on line 2012-01-28 10:03:24.000 - Steve Welsh,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist We're back! Perhaps you noticed that the website stopped updating yesterday morning? Luckily the reason for this was weather related rather than any major technical failures at this end. The storm that passed through

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October 11th, 2011|Comments Off on Day One on the Rock Pile

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Weekly Weather Summary October 2nd – 8th, 2011

October 10th, 2011|Comments Off on Weekly Weather Summary October 2nd – 8th, 2011

Weekly Weather Summary October 2nd - 8th, 2011 2011-10-10 15:08:01.000 - Rick Giard,  Weather Observer / Education Specialist Weather Summary Oct. 2-8 WEEKLY WEATHER SUMMARYOctober 2nd - 8th, 2011This was a week dominated by two

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October 9th, 2011|Comments Off on Fall Colors

Fall Colors 2011-10-09 14:44:52.000 - Steve Welsh,  Weather Observer/IT Specialist Fall Colors Over the past few days the clear sunny weather has provided us with some spectacular views down into the surrounding valleys where the

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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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