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

2212, 2011

An Icy Commute

adm_mwobs2011-12-22T00:06:33-05:00December 22nd, 2011|Categories: Historical Posts|

An Icy Commute 2011-12-22 00:06:33.000 - Ryan Knapp, Weather Observer/Meteorologist Madison dividing western snow and eastern rain. Today's commute to work was interesting/scary/slick/awful. If you live in New Hampshire and did any driving today, you might be thinking at least one of these things as an ice

2012, 2011

Fairwell from a fall intern

adm_mwobs2011-12-20T17:57:39-05:00December 20th, 2011|Categories: Historical Posts|

Fairwell from a fall intern 2011-12-20 17:57:39.000 - Kevin Cronin, Summit Intern NULL Tomorrow will be my last day on the summit. I can't believe over 5 months have pass by since I've started. I have enjoyed the time spent here and I would encourage anyone interested

1912, 2011

A Volunteer’s Comments

adm_mwobs2011-12-19T21:12:40-05:00December 19th, 2011|Categories: Historical Posts|

A Volunteer's Comments 2011-12-19 21:12:40.000 - Brad Bradstreet, Summit Volunteer Stage Office at Night Monday is normally the beginning of my week. But, as a volunteer for the Observatory, the week started on Wednesday morning heading to the summit with this week's crew. The ride up was

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