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

1012, 2011

Hoping for Change

adm_mwobs2011-12-10T22:43:52-05:00December 10th, 2011|Categories: Historical Posts|

Hoping for Change 2011-12-10 22:43:52.000 - Brian Clark, Weather Observer/Education Specialist NULL With two fairly significant early season snowstorms in the northeast this past fall (Halloween and Thanksgiving), I ended up answering a lot of questions about whether storms like that can give any indication of how

912, 2011

My Farewell

adm_mwobs2011-12-09T18:43:10-05:00December 9th, 2011|Categories: Historical Posts|

My Farewell 2011-12-09 18:43:10.000 - David Narkewicz, Summit Intern Me in Snowy Conditions on the Tower It is crazy how time flies! One day I am riding up the Mount Washington Auto Road for the first time to be interviewed for the intern position, and in a

812, 2011

Winter has returned to the Summit

adm_mwobs2011-12-08T19:38:40-05:00December 8th, 2011|Categories: Historical Posts|

Winter has returned to the Summit 2011-12-08 19:38:40.000 - Roger Pushor, Weather Observer/IT Specialist NULL I got up this morning to find fresh layer of new snow had been deposited on the Summit. As promised in the morning Forecast a strong Low pressure system moved over us

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