Scientific Research

Mount Washington Observatory is one of only a handful of permanently-staffed mountaintop weather stations in the world and the only one of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. The mountain's elevation, combined with its unique topography and extraordinary weather extremes make it a natural laboratory. The Observatory, with its technological infrastructure, skilled staff, off-mountain logistical support and year-round mountaintop facility at Mount Washington State Park, is a truly remarkable scientific destination.

Since its founding in 1932, Mount Washington Observatory has contributed to important research efforts in short-wave radio propagation, ice physics, the constitution of clouds, and the composition of the atmosphere. The Observatory has also been an integral partner in the deployment, testing and monitoring of scientific equipment, as well as the testing of consumer and industrial products in one of the planet's most extreme places.

Partnership with Plymouth State University

In the summer of 2012, Mount Washington Observatory and Plymouth State University (PSU) embarked upon an exciting new research partnership to advance the Observatory's research mission and cultivate collaborative research with PSU faculty and students. The cornerstone of this partnership is a new PhD-level staff position, serving jointly as Director of Research at Mount Washington Observatory and Research Assistant Professor at PSU. Eric Kelsey has been hired to fill this role, and is working to expand research on the weather, climate, and ecology of the White Mountains and beyond.

The Science Society

Scientific research is core to the very identity of the Observatory and fundamental to its long-term success. To ensure that the new Director of Research position is properly supported and that the Observatory's scientific efforts will continue long into the future, the Mount Washington Observatory Science Society has been established.

The Science Society, the highest level of Observatory membership, is designed for the most passionate Observatory supporters—people who are intrigued by the mountain's conditions and yearn to learn more about the world around them. Science Society members are proud of Mount Washington Observatory's scientific heritage and committed to positioning the organization for a bright future in research.

In addition to the full slate of benefits associated with Observatory membership, Science Society members have unique access to the research being performed on Mount Washington. Each year, the Director of Research and staff from partner organizations will offer presentations that document the scientific work being done by the Observatory, and preview future projects as well.

If you wish to support science on Mount Washington, please join the Science Society today.