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Alice Weinert's avatar

I'd never heard of river observers, but it makes sense that there would need to be a way to collect weather data to be used by the meteorologists. Do you know if the river observers did other analysis and prediction work or was this just a side gig where they sent in their daily measurements and then had an unrelated job?

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Neil Sagebiel's avatar

A quick search tells me river and weather observers “played a crucial role” in weather forecasting in the first half of the 20th century. By 1945, 900 women were employed as weather observers for the U.S. Weather Bureau.

Fred Winter in Portsmouth had an office at a mill, so maybe he worked there and did his observations on the side. But I expect at least some of the river and weather observers were employed by the weather bureau.

Would it be too much to ask for you to make weather observations on your next hike? Ha!

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Alice Weinert's avatar

You would be surprised by how many weather observations I write down on my hikes! On my longer backpacking trips, I keep a daily journal and I bought a thermometer that's the size of a zipper pull (the ThermoDrop) just so I could get accurate daily highs and lows! I haven't figured out a good way to do it, but I also think it would fun to hike with a rain gauge--instead of just complaining that I got soaking wet, I can use numbers for emphasis!

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Neil Sagebiel's avatar

Yes, I know. I thought about your weather notes as soon as I wrote the sentence. You are most definitely a weather observer! But now I know even more about your gear and journaling.

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Alice Weinert's avatar

You would be surprised by how many weather observations I write down on my hikes! On my longer backpacking trips, I keep a daily journal and I bought a thermometer that's the size of a zipper pull (the ThermoDrop) just so I could get accurate daily highs and lows! I haven't figured out a good way to do it, but I also think it would fun to hike with a rain gauge--instead of just complaining that I got soaking wet, I can use numbers for emphasis!

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Lisa Maguire's avatar

This is an excellent piece of historical writing, pulling together so much context. As I learn more about this place, its history, and the people who lived there, I care more and more about what will happen to them. Essential reading.

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Neil Sagebiel's avatar

Thank you so much, Lisa. Your gracious comment made my day.

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