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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

1405, 2010

Getting closer

May 14th, 2010|Categories: Historical Posts|

Getting closer 2010-05-14 17:06:42.000 - Brian Clark,  Observer and Meteorologist NULL Tomorrow is the start of another weekend, and one weekend closer to the planned opening of the Sherman Adams State Park Building to the public, for the summer season on May 22. Of course, that date

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1305, 2010

New Intern First Day

May 13th, 2010|Categories: Historical Posts|

New Intern First Day 2010-05-13 16:29:05.000 - Rebecca Scholand,  Summit Intern To start, let me introduce myself, I am Rebecca and am one of the new summit interns. I started my first day on the summit yesterday with an uneventful drive on the Mount Washington Auto Road

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1205, 2010

Another volunteer week

May 12th, 2010|Categories: Historical Posts|

Another volunteer week 2010-05-12 22:21:17.000 - John Pearson,  Summit Volunteer NULL Another volunteer week on Mt Washington, ho hum. That's what my sea level friends said when I told them I would be on the summit for this my fifth trip as a volunteer. How wrong could

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A special visitor

January 18th, 2010|Comments Off on A special visitor

A special visitor 2010-01-18 22:19:37.000 - Brian Clark,  Observer and Meteorologist Tuesdays are always busy days for the summit crew, mostly because it is the day before shift change. This means finishing up projects that

Where’s Waldo

January 17th, 2010|Comments Off on Where’s Waldo

Where's Waldo 2010-01-17 17:35:48.000 - Ryan Knapp,  Staff Meteorologist Found ya! If you grew up in the late '80's and early '90's, then you are probably familiar with the coffee table book series of 'Where's

My First Week

January 16th, 2010|Comments Off on My First Week

My First Week 2010-01-16 17:07:07.000 - Nick Lovejoy,  Summit Intern Sunrise This is my first week here on the summit, and what a week it has been so far. On Wednesday as I climbed up

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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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