Observer Comments
August 2013
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On Top of the World
It's amazing how fast time has passed up here; this will be my last shift of the summer.
With my research wrapping up and my internship coming to an end, it was great to not only
see one of the biggest rainfall events in the summit's recent history, but also enjoy
another breathtaking cloudscape on the very same day. On top of that, I experienced one of
the summit's most impressive wind events since the winter; I even had the chance to brave
the wind with a loop around the summit deck, as it peaked above 80 miles per hour.
All in all, it's been a once in a lifetime experience. I've just about finished my first
research project, and it has helped me figure out a lot about my future. I've been
comparing extensive morning-time meteorological and snowpack data taken during recent
winters at Hermit Lake, situated about a thousand feet below the base of Tuckerman Ravine,
to the information recorded here at the Mount Washington Observatory. I aimed to
demonstrate the evolution of snow conditions at Hermit Lake, the relationship between
different meteorological parameters at each station, and how these subjects might be
connected. It involved a lot head scratching, data mining, and careful planning, but I've
reached some interesting conclusions. I've also started to realize that research, while
frustrating at times, can be a rewarding endeavor, and the idea of pursuing this for a
career is something I'm becoming more and more sure of. 'Research' has turned from some
fleeting idea that I really knew nothing about, to something I can imagine myself doing.
The possibility of climate change research is especially interesting to me -- this is a
subject with so many possible areas of focus, and something that's proving to be of great
significance to my generation, and our future moreover. One facet that especially holds my
interest is how weather events, or different synoptic patterns, evolve in response to the
Earth's warming.
I'm really excited about how this internship has given me foothold in the world of
meteorology and research beyond the classroom. With this experience, I plan next summer to
pursue one of several meteorology and climatology research internships made available to
undergraduate students, and really nail down the kinds of things I'd enjoy studying most.
Besides all of the work involved, just spending time up here, whether seeing something
beautiful from the deck, hanging out with the rest of the summit staff, or eating
delicious dinners cooked by the volunteers, has been a blast. I'm incredibly grateful just
to have had the chance to come here -- and maybe, if things pan out down the road, I'll
get the opportunity to come here again. But for now, I'm ready to move on to other things
and move forward with my degree. I can't wait to see what's in store next.
Luke Davis – Summit Intern
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One active Hays Chart!
The final totals are in, and yesterday on the Rockpile we recorded 4.15 inches of rain over a twenty-four hour period. This total represents the most rainfall we've recorded in that time span since Hurricane Irene dropped an estimated 6.66 inches back in 2011. With relatively light winds yesterday, no estimation was needed to capture all four plus inches, with our average wind speed at 24 miles per hour (so far we're averaging 59mph for today).
Today, Saturday, was a much different story wind-wise, as the day shift awoke to winds sustained at hurricane force, gusting over 80 miles per hour. With a stiff northwest breeze aimed directly at our bunkrooms, I could have swore it was just another mid-winter morning, though lo-and-behold the calendar still read August. After a delayed opening for both the Auto Road and Cog Railway this morning due to the high winds, it's been a virtual wind-playground outside on the observation deck for every visitor willing to brave the fast-moving air.
As the end of the day-shift nears, the summit crew is awaiting a group of four from Eastern Mountain Sports' Climbing School in North Conway, who will be our overnight guests for the evening. If you're interested in learning more about visiting the Mount Washington Observatory during the day or overnight, visit our website!
Brian Fitzgerald – Weather Observer/Education Specialist
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Flooding on a mountain peak?
Today is a very rainy day on the summit. In fact it's probably the rainiest day so far this summer, with over 3.43 inches of rain falling so far today and still more falling as I write this. Rainy days in most locations mean time spent indoors watching movies, but up here on the summit there's still plenty of work to be done rain or shine, and our observers still need to go outside to do hourly weather observations.
Although today has been a very rainy day, it certainly hasn't been a boring rainy day. At 5:30 this morning I awoke to bright flashes of light in my room. Confused, I turned to my room's window to see that the lights were actually very frequent lightning! I was able to witness the tail end of the storm, which still offered up plenty more lightning and also a good downdraft with a peak gust of 56mph. After the first batch of storms, the rain never really let up here on the summit. The rain even caused a little bit of flooding in the parking lot, something I've never seen in my time up here.
Tomorrow should bring some more exciting weather as a cold front crosses our area overnight. Winds are expected to top out somewhere in the 60-80mph range tomorrow morning, with higher gusts than that likely. I'm looking forward to seeing how some of the findings from my wind gust project stand up (figuratively) to some high winds!
Tom Padham – Summit Intern
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In All Meow Glory
Meow from the summit of Mount Washington!
I don't know what the big deal is, but all of the sudden, folks have begun to trek up to see me in droves! Purr-haps it's something to do with the warmer weather, but from my purr-spective, it must be my radiant fur coat, irresistible yellow-green eyes, and delightful mug that shines in the summer sunlight. But I'll let you be the judge of that, when you come up and visit me at the Observatory!
This kitty hasn't had much on his plate (or in his bowl) since the last time we spoke, except of course for the usual abundance of sleep time, playtime with my minion observers, and general lounging amidst my living quarters.
So, if you're in the White Mountain area, and cat-templating an exciting excursion to make, come on up to the summit of Mount Washington, and if you're a member of the Observatory, schedule a tour! And maybe, just maybe, if you're lucky enough, you could catch a glimpse of this pretty kitty.
If you're not a member, it's worth it just to see more of me and my stunning self, as well as other benefits that those humans find quite interesting.
And meow it's time for another snack, a cat nap, and maybe a trip to the couch!
Marty – Summit Cat
If you're in the North Conway area tonight, be sure to swing by the Weather Discovery Center for the continuation of the Science in the Mountains lecture series!
Tonight's lecture will be 'State of the Loon: The Natural History, Challenges, and Successes of Loons in New Hampshire'.
The speaker will be Harry Vogel, the Biologist and Co-chair of the Northeast Loon Study Working Group.
Have you ever wondered why a loon's eyes are red? Why loon chicks ride on their parents' backs? What loons are saying with those eerie calls in the night? Learn about this unique symbol of New Hampshire's wild lakes and its special place in the hearts of New Hampshire residents. Explore the challenges facing loons, and the Loon Preservation Committee's work to safeguard New Hampshire's threatened loon population.
Come on out tonight for an intriguing program!
Mike Carmon – Weather Observer/Meteorologist
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Daybreak on the summit
This morning I woke up early to catch the sunrise. Sometimes getting out of bed seems to be the hardest thing to do, especially after a previously long day. Nonetheless, a quick glance at the subtle light coming through the window indicated the beginnings of dawn and provided enough motivation for me to hustle and make my way up to the Observation deck.
After grabbing my camera, I stepped outside into the cool air. The wind had died down overnight and the air was still. The sun was just peeking out over the horizon and the pink and orange glow lit up the distant ranges.
Sunrises often harbor a lot of symbolism for many people, indicating the start of a new day or a clean slate. No matter what significance it may hold, I only hope everyone can take time once in a while to step away from hectic morning routines and catch this spectacular sight as often as possible!
Observer Footnote: If you're going to be in North Conway Village Wednesday night and are looking for something educational and fun to do, stop by the Weather Discovery Center for our weekly Science in the Mountains lecture series. These talks occur every Wednesday night at 7PM from now until August 21st. And the best part - they're all FREE! Tomorrow's talk will be "State of the Loon", presented by Harry Vogel, Biologist and Co-chair of the Northeast Loon Study Working Group. We hope you'll join us!
Kaitlyn O`Brien – Summit Intern
It is now August 5th and I awoke to cold temperatures. Not only were they cold, but they reached a low for the day of 31F. Personally, I was enjoying them but now they are already rebounding. Being a winter sports enthusiast, it is the first sign that winter is just around the corner here on the summit. While I think we all want summer to hold on for a bit longer, I will admit the chilly air felt great. So, as a friendly reminder please make sure you are taking this into consideration when visiting the summit. While it can still be warm in the valley, the summit can be quite a different place.
Rebecca Scholand – Weather Observer/Education Specialist
This is my last week on the summit of Mount Washington, and yet it feels as though my internship started just yesterday! Time really flies here on the Rockpile, and as I pass the half-way point of my final week as a Mount Washington intern, I reflect on my adventure here on the summit.
My first week here on Mount Washington was a hectic one, as we were short a staff member and winter was making a brief return visit to the summit. Mount Washington quickly lived up to its reputation as the 'Home of the World's Worst Weather,' as I witnessed a peak wind gust of 123mph on May 26th, along with over an inch of glaze ice, 5 inches of snow, and over half a foot of accumulated rime ice. Being short an observer, I got an early opportunity to venture outside and take weather observations in addition to deicing the tower. My second week on Mount Washington was a bit more relaxed, as we were fully staffed, and I began to really dig into my intern project. My project asked me to compare weather data from the Hermit Lake shelters to the Mount Washington Summit in an attempt to better understand the conditions that lead to avalanches in Tuckerman Ravine. This week I get to present my findings from this study to the observatory staff.
Summer finally arrived on my third week on the mountain, as most of the remaining snow had melted and temperatures were consistently passing the 50 degree mark. The warmer weather brought several more visitors to the mountain, and the demand for weather center tours was on the rise. Providing tours to observatory members gave me a unique opportunity to learn about the mountain through teaching and interacting with the public. It wasn't until my fourth week on the mountain that I was finally able to venture out on my first hike; where I traveled down to Lakes of the Clouds Hut twice over the week. Hiking off the summit cone provided me with a different perspective of Mount Washington, and I was able to appreciate the beauty and prominence of the mountain from below.
The Observatory's Seek the Peak fundraiser took place during my fifth week on the summit. Seek the peak was a day that brought continuous waves of hikers through the Observatory, and it was my job to help provide tours for them. I really enjoyed the experience of getting to interact with the Observatory fans, and I was happy to share my knowledge of the mountain with them.
I have now reached the final stretch of my internship, and it is nice to reflect on all that I have experienced during my time on Mount Washington. I feel that looking back and appreciating my journey is just as important as living the journey itself. I greatly appreciate this opportunity and it has been an honor to work at the Mount Washington Observatory - 'Home of the World's Worst Weather.'
Alex Carne – Summit Intern
Do you have a lawn? Well, here on the summit, we don't; and that might be a good thing. With the limited amount of clear weather and sun we get, it might not do well. Luckily there is a type of vegetation that thrives on the higher summits of the Presidential Range and its called alpine vegetation. While this vegetation can withstand the harsh weather, it struggles to grow when trampled. This is why it is so important to stay on the trails while hiking about the region. To help preserve the fragile environment, many studies by the AMC and others have been conducted to better understand the types of plants that call the summit of Mount Washington home. To learn more, you can visit the Appalachian Mountain Club's page on alpine vegetation.
Rebecca Scholand – Weather Observer/Education Specialist
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Observer the weather above Gullfoss, Iceland.
For a week at a time I am on the summit of Mount Washington observing and forecasting the weather. However, when I leave the summit, my "instinct" of observing and forecasting never really goes away. When I wake up every morning during my off week, instead of reaching for a newspaper, I instead find myself downloading weather maps, pulling up various weather apps, and looking at current and future conditions in the day or days ahead. This helps bring peace of mind as I plan my day ahead - what do I have to wear, what might I have to bring along with me, will I need to travel earlier, and so on and so forth. However, it doesn't just end there. After my forecasting skill set is utilized, the rest of the day is a continuous reexamination of the sky and conditions around me. Is it colder than expected, where are these winds coming from, is that cumulus building into a thunderstorm, is that a slight rotation I see, am I going to be altering my plans to storm chase...well, you get the idea.
Even when I am on vacation, I still find myself itching to forecast and observe the weather around me. While forecasting and observing the weather around me is certainly useful, it is sometimes distracting and has me "geeking" out on something like a building thunderstorm rather than the land masses and features that are below said storm; or at very minimum, co-geeking out on both land and sky features. Such was the case last off week. While taking in the sites in Iceland, I found myself looking at forecasts and then the skies through the day. One day in particular, my observations started with a halo around the sun in the morning. Then as I reached my first destination of the day, I spotted a little puffy cloud taking shape on the distant horizon. As I traveled around during the day, I found myself constantly checking the building cumulus cloud as it started to take shape into a towering cumulus, followed by a single cumulonimbus then several cumulonimbus clouds before the sky was awash in gray followed by rain, lightning, and high winds. While the sights of the country were awe inspiring, it was also a lot of fun to forecast and then see the weather from a whole different location. Even better, it was awesome to see that weather at 64 degrees North wasn't all that much different from what I was used to seeing at our 6288 foot mountain top weather station at 44 degrees North.
Ryan Knapp – Weather Observer/Meteorologist
One of many intern duties is to provide tours of the Observatory to our supportive members. During the first week of my internship, I shadowed several tours given by seasoned observers and I remember thinking, 'How can I possibly remember all of these facts, dates, and the order in which the information should be presented?' Now that I have given countless tours to members of all ages, I can rehearse the entire spiel in my sleep. I've even learned how to tailor the information for different age groups as well as for a variety of specific interests people may have.
I really enjoy working with the public and meeting people. I love to see the fascination on people's faces when they have to ask again just to be sure, 'So you really live up here for a week!?' Or sometimes the question is, 'How do I get to spend a week up here?' One of the more memorable tours I've given was to a group of young adults who were very interested in the operations of our facility. However, within this group, there was an individual that was just learning English as a second language. So another individual within the same group had to translate everything I was saying. Once I realized this, I had to slow down the pace of the tour so that the translator could keep up with and share all of the information I was providing. When I did this, I realized it became more of a conversation between me and the group instead of a one-sided presentation. Several questions arose throughout the tour and I was happy to answer every single one. It was wonderful to see so much curiosity, especially among our international friends. At the end of the tour, one individual commented on how important the work is that we do and was fascinated to learn that we operate as a non-profit organization.
Sometimes it's easy to take working at the Observatory for granted. The 360 degree views from the parapet, the gorgeous sunrises and sunsets, and experiencing a variety of extreme weather conditions throughout the year is every meteorologist's dream. But when tourists come through and are truly in awe of the work we do day in and day out, it is a little reminder of just how lucky we are to spend a week at a time atop the highest peak in the Northeast doing what we love. With that perspective in mind, I don't think I've ever 'worked' a single day up here!
Kaitlyn O`Brien – Summit Intern
OUR PARTNERS
19:13 Mon Aug 12th
A View of the Summit from Jefferson
Greetings from the Rock Pile!
(I've really wanted to say that!) If you've been following along reading the observer comments, you know that it has been quite the exciting weather week here up on the summit. This is my first time volunteering for the Observatory Crew, and hopefully it will not be my last; it has been a truly remarkable experience. It took me long enough to get around to it, but I will not wait too long to do it again! I first heard about the opportunity from my sophomore year High School Chemistry teacher, who, along with his wife, dedicated many years of volunteer service to MWObs. It has been in the back of my mind since, and as I've gotten older my love for the White Mountains, Mount Washington and hiking has grown exponentially. I have always fancied science as my favorite subject and worked for a wonderful Climatologist as part of my four years at UNH. Between my love for science, weather and people, this has been a truly great experience.
As a volunteer, my primary duty has been to put dinner on the table for the crew (9 including myself right now) each night (always along with another volunteer). That has been a great adventure in its own; it is really rewarding and feels like serving a holiday family style dinner every night. The rest of my time has been spent enjoying the beauty of living on top of the world (at least in NH!). As they say in New England, 'if you don't like the weather, wait five minutes and it will change.' This is particularly true to the Home of the World's Worst Weather and I have been lucky enough to experience that first hand. If you read back over the most recent Observer Comments, you will find that we have had an extraordinary stretch of weather for the middle of August-Including a heavy precipitation event, high-sustaining winds and even a thunderstorm! We have also had some great clear days-with views up to 100 miles away. From the observation room, I have been able to identify Mt. Coburn in Maine, Jay Peak in Vermont and Mt. Orford, in Canada. I have been able to witness the spectacular Observers and Interns hard at work at what they do and have learned so much about the 'behind-the-scenes' of meteorology. I have had the opportunity to stand out on the observation deck and lean into sustained winds of 70+mph. I heard two summit strikes of lighting from the safety of the observation room. And today, as the morning fogs lifted and the wind lessened, I hiked out from the summit over Mt. Clay to Mt. Jefferson. Great Gulf was absolutely stunning, as were the views from the top of this Northern Presidential. It made me feel particularly happy and inspired to look south from the top of Jefferson across the gulf and up the rock pile to what has been my home-away-from-home this week. I highly encourage anyone who has been curious or thinking about this amazing opportunity to take the plunge, become a member and support MWObs by volunteering.
Julie Beal – Summit Volunteer