Citizen CATE Q+A with State Coordinator Jackie Bellefontaine By MWOBS Staff On April 8th the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth and will completely block out the sun in portions of the United States, including northern New England, creating a rare spectacle that won’t be seen again in our region until 2079. While the summit of Mount Washington won’t be in the path of totality, we are excited to have our School Programs Coordinator Jackie Bellefontaine serve as a state coordinator for the NASA-funded Citizen Continental-America Telescope Eclipse (CATE) experiment that brings together 35 teams of local

Information Integrity and the Importance of Metadata By MWOBS Staff Climatology, or climate science, is the study of Earth's climate by “recording and analyzing weather patterns throughout the world and understanding the atmospheric conditions that cause them” (National Geographic Society, 2023). Climatological records typically refer to periods of 30 years; new climate averages are calculated every three decades based on these records. It is here that the accurate documentation and dissemination of data is an integral piece of not only maintaining a clear picture of the past, but also better understanding implications for the future (for instance, when looking at

Mountain Forecasting and Its Applications to Avalanche Safety and Search & Rescue By MWOBS Staff The White Mountains are renowned for adventure and extreme weather. Specialized weather information like the Higher Summits Forecast helps search and rescue teams, avalanche experts, and the outdoor community at-large anticipate weather and make safe decisions. With nearly 800,000 acres of White Mountain National Forest land surrounding the summit of Mount Washington, search and rescue units and scientists performing mountain weather and avalanche forecasting are paramount to the safety of recreationalists and professionals in the region, especially in the winter months. A recent avalanche

In-School Visits Inspire Future Weather Scientists By MWOBS Staff 2023 has been a pivotal year for educational programs at the Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS). “This year, we’ve seen explosive growth both in the interest in our programming, and also in the programs we’ve developed here,” Brian Fitzgerald, Director of Education, explains. These programs have included spring field trips, summer camp programs, after-school, virtual learning, and in-school programs featuring backpack and weather instrument giveaways. The excitement generated by the in-school visits and giveaways was of particular note to Jackie Bellefontaine, who headed the program this season. “With a mission to support

A Classroom on the Tallest Peak of New England By Brian Fitzgerald Eighth grade students from Whitefield, NH visit the summit of Mount Washington in late May. Beginning this spring, Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) staff have been rolling out an expanded suite of school-based programs throughout the region, thanks in part to a bequest from the Sheldon Family Estate. The gift allows the Observatory to develop and assess K-12 educational programs based on needs and interests expressed by teachers, administrators, students, and families. During conversations with these groups, the need for experiential, hands-on learning was a common refrain. Educators

Virtual Classroom Inspires Young Homeschooling Student By MWOBS Staff Evan Cherepowich studies a snowflake using a precipitation board, microscope, and housing unit, an assembly he was inspired to create following one of the Observatory’s many Virtual Classroom programs. If you value our work in weather and climate education, consider supporting our mission. As the pandemic changed lives and challenged communities to adapt in 2020, teachers and students found themselves on the front lines of a new reality. Many schools in the U.S. kept their teachers and students at home, adopting virtual learning to thwart the coronavirus. Communities of learners

The Role of Elevation-Based Forecasts in Backcountry Safety By MWOBS Staff The southern Presidential Range summits with snow at sunrise on Oct. 11. If you value our work in mountain forecasting, consider supporting our mission. Spreading the word about severe weather in the White Mountains has become an increasingly high priority for groups aiming to improve hiker decision-making. Rescue missions continue at a consistent annual pace, according to New Hampshire Fish and Game, and recent fatalities of under-prepared hikers who ventured alone into the mountains elevate the importance of safe hiking practices and public awareness about higher-elevation weather conditions.

Meteorologist Looks Back at Launching Her Career on Mount Washington By MWOBS Staff Sarah Long is shown in the WMTW News 8 studio in Portland, ME. If you value our work in launching careers in weather and climate, consider supporting our mission. During her undergraduate studies, Sarah Long knew she loved weather. The direction her career would take was less certain. One of only a few women studying meteorology at UMass Lowell in the late 1990s, she knew she'd be a minority in the weather research and forecasting field. Her internships with the FAA and private forecasting firms, and

Observatory Builds New Wind Sensors for Frontier Science on Everest The expedition team constructs a new weather station, which includes a Mount Washington Observatory custom-built wind sensor, at Bishop Rock just below Mount Everest's summit in May 2022. The expedition was supported by National Geographic and Rolex through their Perpetual Planet Expeditions. Credit: Arbindra Khadka/National Geographic. If you value this work, consider supporting our mission. In May, climate scientists and a cadre of highly specialized Sherpas ventured to Mount Everest to install new automated weather stations at the planet’s outer edge. Their packs held tripods and a load of

Paul McCoy guides ice and rock climbing, mountaineering, and ski outings in the White Mountains. He relies on Mount Washington Observatory forecasts to anticipate weather and keep people safe in the backcountry. If you value these forecasts, consider supporting our mission. Long before reaching treeline, Paul McCoy has a good idea of what to expect from the weather. A climbing school leader in the White Mountains, he takes groups ranging in skill to higher summits throughout the winter climbing season. Harsh weather often comes with the territory. Getting caught off-guard by a storm system, preferably not. McCoy is on Mount