Which of the following is a description of the ASOS system?

Which of the following is a description of the ASOS system?

• A. A system for filing flight plans
• B. A weather data analysis tool for private pilots
• C. A manual record of weather observations
• D. A system that uses sensors, computers, and communication to record atmospheric conditions at one-minute intervals

Answer: (D)

ASOS is an automated weather observing system at airports. It continually uses sensors to measure atmospheric conditions—such as temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction, visibility, cloud cover and ceiling, precipitation, and pressure—and then uses computers to process this data and communications to transmit it. A key feature is the rapid, automated reporting cadence, typically about every minute, so up-to-date observations are available for aviation and weather services. This combination of sensors, automated processing, and frequent transmissions is what defines ASOS, making it the description that matches the system. The other options describe filing flight plans, data analysis tools, or manual records, which don’t describe ASOS.

ASOS is an automated weather observing system at airports. It continually uses sensors to measure atmospheric conditions—such as temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction, visibility, cloud cover and ceiling, precipitation, and pressure—and then uses computers to process this data and communications to transmit it. A key feature is the rapid, automated reporting cadence, typically about every minute, so up-to-date observations are available for aviation and weather services. This combination of sensors, automated processing, and frequent transmissions is what defines ASOS, making it the description that matches the system. The other options describe filing flight plans, data analysis tools, or manual records, which don’t describe ASOS.