What Is a Weather Station?
A Weather Station is an organizational name under the jurisdiction of the Japan Meteorological Agency, with regional weather stations located throughout the country. Each weather station collects meteorological data, creates weather forecasts, and disseminates meteorological information, including forecasts, on television and radio stations, as well as online networks.
For the safe operation of aircraft, meteorological information is crucial. Therefore, the Japan Meteorological Agency has established aviation weather stations and observation posts at 90 airports nationwide. Aviation weather stations provide not only general weather information but also data on phenomena such as turbulence and thunderstorms in monitored areas, predictions of visibility, cloud base height, and the potential for aircraft icing. This information is provided to aviation professionals.
Furthermore, meteorological information gathered from each aviation weather station is disseminated worldwide through the main office of the Japan Meteorological Agency.
Uses of Weather Station
Meteorological information is highly critical for the safe operation of aircraft. Each weather station, particularly aviation weather stations, provides meteorological information to aviation professionals. Specifically, this information includes temperature, humidity, cumulonimbus clouds, other cloud types, the occurrence of turbulence, rain, snow, wind direction and speed, visibility, cloud base height, and more.
This meteorological information is utilized to understand the weather above airports and along flight routes.
Dispatchers from airlines, responsible for planning flight operations, use meteorological information to formulate operational plans and may make decisions to cancel operations as necessary.
Airport controllers manage takeoffs and landings of aircraft while checking meteorological information around the airport.
Aircraft captains, based on meteorological information, collaborate with air traffic controllers and dispatchers to choose a safe route for timely flight operations.