The Automatic Weather Observation System (AWOS) field at the Sable Island Station. Although it collects data “automatically”, the AWOS instrumentation requires routine maintenance and a secure location. Meteorological observations are essential not only in forecasting, but also in atmospheric research. For example, ground-based meteorological data collected on Sable Island (e.g. radiation measurements and cloud cover observations) are used in photochemical modelling studies (e.g. tropospheric ozone studies).