Funding to support various projects at the mount washington observatory (MWOBS) in new hampshire, including upgrades to the mount washington regional mesonet (MWRM), that will enable increased…

This Project Grant award, valued at $1,538,000, was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Congressionally Identified Awards and Projects program (CFDA 11.469). The funding will support various projects at the Mount Washington Observatory (MWOBS) in New Hampshire, including upgrades to the Mount Washington Regional Mesonet (MWRM) network of 19 automated weather stations. This will enable increased research and public access to the observatory's weather and climate data. The award will also fund the purchase of a new snowcat and a 3D scanning Doppler wind lidar for research, as well as upgrades to existing research instrumentation, software development for data quality control, and the establishment of a broadcasting studio and web-based data portal. Additionally, the grant supports MWOBS's sub-grant activities with organizations like the University of Vermont and Gulf of Maine Research Institute, focusing on educational programs that promote scientific data practices, particularly for K-12 students.

Funding to support various projects at the mount washington observatory (MWOBS) in new hampshire, including upgrades to the mount washington regional mesonet (MWRM), that will enable increased research and visitation. This is a congressionally-directed special community project requested by senator jeanne shaheen and identified in the consolidated appropriations act, 2024 (P.L. 118-42), signed into law on march 9, 2024. Mesonets are interconnected networks of instrumented environmental monitoring stations across an entire state, or a small footprint of a state/region. The MWRM consists of 19 automated weather stations and collect real-time data on weather conditions required for meteorological and climatological research. The capital outlay provided will support upgrades to the existing stations and allow for expansion of the MWRM to additional locations in the white mountains region. The outlay will also provide funding for the purchase of a new snowcat to ensure wintertime continuity and of a 3D scanning doppler wind lidar for research. The outlay will also support upgrades to existing research instrumentation, a consultant to design software that would automate error checking of observational reports, the set-up of a broadcasting studio to disseminate information, and development of a web-based portal for public access to MWOBS's historic weather and climate data.