The PING Project This map shows data reported by users of the
mPING app during Friday's blizzard in the Northeast. This map
shows data reported by users of the mPING app during Friday's
blizzard in the Northeast. The PING Project If you love to talk
about the weather — or want to help collect information about it
— a new smartphone app may be for you. The National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the University of Oklahoma are
giving regular folks an opportunity to fiddle with weather
reporting. Using crowdsourcing, the mobile Precipitation
Identification Near the Ground app collects geographic, winter
precipitation data from users. The mPING app also links to a map
showing weather reports sent in by locals. The data collected by
the app will help weather officials program radar to determine
exactly what's falling near you. For example, is it hail or
mixed rain? The free app is currently available for the iOS and
Android operating systems. Screengrab of mPING The National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Adm