Originally Posted by
beardy
Interestingly, almost all commercial aircraft provide atmospheric data automatically, in real time, in flight, the data being relayed through the ACARS system and widely distributed. This allows reasonably accurate modelling of air masses, including jetstreams (in 3 dimensions) and their movements. This is useful for surface weather forecasting, in flight safety (turbulence reports and forecasts) and also economically important for fuel efficient routing.
A very good friend of mine earned a good OBE pioneering the integration of such reports into modelling and then redistributing the results to aviation.
CAT is another beast: two aircraft close in time and space can have two very different experiences: the Met Research Flight Snoopy Hercules apparently spent time and effort CAT hunting.
CAT is like one fish in a shoal in a sea.