Mobilizing Citizen Science for Hail Research: Motivations, Challenges, and Outcomes
Mobiliser la science citoyenne pour la recherche sur la grêle : motivations, défis et résultats
Li, Liye ; Zhang, Qinghong ; Zhang, Haifan ; Lin, Xiangyu ; Ng, Chan-Pang ; Xue, Huiwen ; Ren, Yangze ; Zhao, Chuanfeng ; Cui, Chunguang ; Xu, Hongbing ; Huang, Wei
Année de publication
2025
Since 2016, a citizen science project focused on natural hailstone collection has been initiated, aiming to bridge the gap in hailstorm observations and increase the understanding of the effect of aerosols during hailstone formation. In this project, 3063 effective fallen hailstones from 15 provinces in China were successfully gathered by 100 volunteers. The online platform WeChat was leveraged to broadcast collection needs, engage the public, and provide detailed sample collection instructions. Freshly fallen hailstones were collected by volunteers after hailstorms and properly stored until delivery for further laboratory analysis. After preprocessing, the chemical composition of the collected hailstones was analyzed, including water-soluble ions, insoluble particles, and stable isotopes from inner nuclei to outer shells. The analysis results revealed that the water-soluble ions and insoluble particles in hailstones have significant correlation with local surface aerosols, and diverse properties of ice-nucleating particles in hailstones, as well as varying hailstone vertical growth trajectories were observed. The results provide insights into hailstone formation and highlight the importance of atmospheric chemistry in predicting hailstorms in the future. Various strategies were adopted in initiating this citizen science project to encourage public engagement, acknowledge achievement, and gather feedback. Surveys indicated that most of the responding volunteers (79%) were primarily motivated by the opportunity to contribute to science, with favorable scientific literacy achieved via general education and science outreach efforts. Notably, 67% of the respondents reported motivation originating from direct experience of hail damage. The widespread use of smartphones and social media is crucial for extending information networks and increasing citizen science project mobilization.</div>
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