Automated (Airport) weather observing system



Introduction

AWOS (Automated Weather Observing System) is a fully configurable airport weather system that provides continuous, real time information and reports on airport weather conditions. AWOS stations are mostly operated, maintained and controlled by aviation service providers.

Depending on the configuration, AWOS measure a combination of the following parameters:

  • Barometric pressure (in hectopascals (hPa) / inches of Mercury (inHg)), altimeter setting and density altitude
  • Wind speed and wind gusts (in knots), wind direction (from which the wind is blowing) and variable wind direction (in degrees of the compass)
  • Temperature and dew point (in degrees Celsius)
  • Visibility and variable visibility (in metres/miles)
  • Sky condition (in oktas), cloud ceiling height (in metres/feet) and liquid precipitation accumulation (in centimetres/inches)
  • Precipitation type (e.g. rain, snow, drizzle) identification
  • Thunderstorm detection (via a cloud-to-ground lightning detector)
  • Freezing rain detection (via a freezing rain sensor)
  • Runway surface conditions
  • Radiation

AWOS Sensor Data

See AWOS Sensor Data for details about the data set from AWOS sensors and reference data related to the sensors.

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