Abstract
To improve forecasts of snowfall events, a better understanding of the microphysical properties of snow clouds is needed. TheMeteorological Research Institute conducted the “#KantoSnowCrystal Project” to collect images of snow crystals from citizens during snowfall events in the Kanto and Koshin regions in Japan. Smartphone cameras were used to capture the images, which were mainly collected through social networking services. Through the campaign in the 2016-2017 winter season, we confirmed the availability of snow crystal observations by citizen science, and tried understanding the snowfall characteristics in these metropolitan areas.
Through the project, we were able to establish an easy method for snow crystal observation and data collection. More than 10,000 snow crystal images were gathered throughout the 2016-2017 winter, of which 73% were analyzable. The #KantoSnowCrystal Project thereby realized spatiotemporally ultra-dense observations of snow crystals in these metropolitan areas, and the observation dataset should contribute to investigations of snowfall mechanisms in these areas and the verification and improvement of numerical weather models, etc. The amount of data, however, varied considerably between heavily populated central urban areas and less-populated inland areas. Collaboration with local autonomous bodies and educational organizations, and effective outreach and dissemination activities are needed to expand the network of snow crystal observation by citizen science.
