Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System: Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 13:54, 29 July 2023

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[[File:Expo AMeDAS-2005-7-22.jpg|thumb|AMeDAS]]

'''AMeDAS''' ('''''A''utomated ''Me''teorological ''D''ata ''A''cquisition ''S''ystem'''), commonly known in Japanese as "アメダス" (''amedasu''), is a high-resolution [[surface observation]] network developed by the [[Japan Meteorological Agency]] (JMA) used for gathering regional weather data and verifying forecast performance. The system began operating on 1 November 1974, and currently comprises 1,300 stations throughout Japan (of which over 1,100 are unmannedunstaffed), with an average separation of {{convert|17|km|mi|abbr=on}}.

Observations at mannedstaffed stations cover weather, wind [[wind direction|direction]] and [[wind speed|speed]], types and amounts of [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]], [[List of cloud types|types]] and [[Cloud base|base]] heights of clouds, [[visibility]], air temperature, [[humidity]], [[sunshine duration]], and [[atmospheric pressure]]. All of these (except weather, visibility and cloud-related meteorological elements) are observed automatically.

At unmannedunstaffed stations, observations are performed every 10 minutes. About 700 of the unmannedunstaffed stations observe precipitation, air temperature, wind direction and speed, and sunshine duration, while the other stations observe only precipitation.

For about 280 stations (mannedstaffed or unmannedunstaffed) located in areas of heavy snowfall, snow depth is also observed.

All the observational data is transmitted to the AMeDAS Center at JMA Headquarters in Tokyo on a [[Real-time computing|real time]] basis via dedicated telephone lines. The data is then delivered to the whole country after a quality check.