Science in the Mountains
Science in the Mountains is a FREE year-round, virtual lecture program. Join Mount Washington Observatory staff each month as we bring experts from across the fields of weather, climate and beyond to the comfort of your home screen. Register for each lecture below.
This FREE series is hosted virtually by Mount Washington Observatory using Zoom, and streams live on the Observatory’s Facebook Page. Recordings of each program are available the day after they air on MWO’s YouTube channel and below. See the upcoming schedule to find the link to register for each program:
Made possible by generous funding from Northway Bank
Upcoming Schedule
All programs begin at 7pm unless otherwise indicated, and we encourage you to connect early and come with questions!
Tuesday, April 8th, 2025, at 7:00pm: Active Weather & Climate Research at Mount Washington Observatory
Peter Edwards, Frank Vazzano, Mees Fransen, Marin MacDonald
Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) works to advance understanding of the natural systems that create Earth’s weather and climate through its around the clock weather operations and by developing and offering innovative educational programs. Last but certainly not least, MWOBS engages in original, collaborative, and hosted research. Join us this month to learn about three current research projects focused on mountain-generated snow events, snowpack hydrology, and the development of a “Climate Almanac” in partnership with the Appalachian Mountain Club and the Hubbard Brook Research Foundation.
Tuesday, May 20th, 2025 at 7:00pm: Now & Then: A History of the Mt Washington Carriage Road and Glen Houses
Howie Wemyss, Former Mt. Washington Auto Road General Manager & Glen House Partner
Curious about the history of the Mount Washington Carriage Road and the Glen House hotels? Join Howie Wemyss, former general manager of the Mt Washington Auto Road and partner in the new Glen House hotel for a richly illustrated journey from the earliest days in Greens Grant in the 1850s to the opening of the 5th version of the Glen House in 2018.
Previous Programs
Tuesday, March 11, 2025, at 7:00pm: Eyes on the Sky: Watching the Weather with Mountain Rain or Snow
Meghan Collins, MS, Associate Research Scientist, Desert Research Institute
What is falling from the sky right now? Join us to hear about Mountain Rain or Snow, a project welcoming weather observers to help track cold weather storms.
It’s notoriously difficult to track winter precipitation in the mountains because it can vary over the course of minutes and across short distances. Normally, we think of snow falling at air temperatures below 32°F – but in the world of weather forecasting, that isn’t always the case. We can sometimes see snow falling at several degrees above freezing! And as residents of the northeast know, it can also be difficult to predict freezing rain. Direct observations, made by people, are the most accurate way to update the technologies that drive our weather forecasts.
Tuesday, February 11th, 2025, at 7:00pm: The History and Science of Forensic Meteorology
Alicia Wasula, Ph.D., Certified Consulting Meteorologist, President, STM Weather
In this webinar, we will discuss the long history of the field of forensic meteorology, learn how observational data is used to understand the meteorological conditions, and look at several interesting examples which demonstrate how forensic meteorologists help attorneys understand the weather as it relates to a specific case.
Tuesday, January 14th, 2025, at 7:00pm: An Overview of the Northeast Regional Climate Center
Arthur DeGaetano, Director of the Northeast Regional Climate Center; Director of Undergraduate Studies for Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University
The Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC), located in Ithaca, New York, facilitates and enhances the collection, dissemination and use of climate data and information, as well as monitors and accesses climatic conditions and impacts across the Northeastern United States. Join Director Arthur DeGaetano for an overview of the NRCC and a demonstration of some of the tools that the center has developed that feature Mount Washington data. We’ll also learn about current NRCC projects and datasets that further the economic efficiency and general welfare of public and private institutions and individuals in the region.
