Originally Posted by
Great Charmer
I wonder how the AWOS manages to detect the type of cloud but not the height. Or maybe with that type of convective cloud it was too ‘chaotic’ for the system to provide a reliable height?
AWOS uses ceilometers to measure cloud height and interpolate sky condition. Typically, if cloud doesn't pass over the sensor in the last 30 minutes it will report NCD.
I don't know about the UK, but in France radar and lightning strike data are used to determine TCU, CB and TS. The AWOS itself is not detecting cloud type, but it is being added on from radar analysis.