Which description corresponds to Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS)?

• A. A manual weather observation station.
• B. A satellite weather data link.
• C. An automated weather reporting system for en-route use.
• D. Automated weather reporting system consisting of sensors, a processor, a computer-generated voice subsystem, and a transmitter to broadcast weather data.

Answer: (D)

AWOS is an unattended, automated setup at airports that continuously measures and broadcasts weather data. It combines sensors to detect conditions such as wind, temperature, dew point, pressure, visibility, cloud height, and precipitation; a processor to collect and format that data; a computer-generated voice subsystem to vocalize the weather information; and a transmitter to broadcast the data to pilots and air traffic services. This combination—sensors plus processing plus voice output plus transmission—defines an automated weather reporting system at the airport. The other options describe manual observations, satellite links, or en-route systems, none of which match the airport-based, fully automated broadcast setup described here.