What are some of the benefits of having the US standardize to these new code formats?
A4. Hourly and special observations are used both as stand alone data for the sites and as inputs to global weather models for both analysis and forecasting. It is this global use of each small bit of information which drives the need for standardization. Additionally, the increase in international flights between the U.S. and other nations from more U.S. locations than ever before (there are 3 flights per week alone between Memphis and Beijing) lends itself to developing a more “seamless” international standard for aviation. Moreover, standardization becomes vital for the general aviation community for flights to Canada, the Caribbean Area, and Mexico from the U.S.
