|Home||Site Map||National News||Organization| NWS Alaska Region
- Surface Observing Network Assessment There are a number of
surface observation networks in Alaska that support weather
forecasting activities, as well as meet the needs of various
user communities (mariners, pilots, commuters, etc.) and
partners (U.S. Coast Guard, Emergency Management, Federal
Aviation Administration, etc.). Over time, new networks have
been established, and as a result, some areas of Alaska have a
relative abundance of real-time weather reports available while
there are significant gaps in others. To address this issue a
Working Group on Aviation Weather Observations was formed that
reviewed the NWS surface observing networks in the interest of
optimizing our investments in this area. As part of this
activity, a team consisting of both NWS and FAA members
examined; (1) the effectiveness of one particular observing
network (the "A-Paid" program) and (2) developed recommendations
toward meeting mission requirements as they perta