Which description corresponds to Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS)?

• A. Weather reporting system which provides surface observations every minute via digitized voice broadcasts and printed reports.
• B. An automated satellite data feed for weather.
• C. A manual weather observation checklist.
• D. A radar-based weather display.

Answer: (A)

ASOS is an automated system that continuously gathers surface weather data at airports and makes it available in digital form to aviation weather networks. It uses sensors to measure wind speed and direction, visibility, present weather, cloud cover and height, temperature, dew point, and altimeter pressure, and it updates these observations very frequently—about every minute—so pilots and weather services have current information. The data are transmitted digitally, enabling automated reporting and distribution, often used to support METAR observations. This highlights why the description focusing on a weather reporting system that provides surface observations every minute via digitized communications best fits ASOS. It isn’t a satellite feed, a manual observation checklist, or a radar-based display, which are different sources of weather information.