What is a met station in relation to RAWS?

A met station, in the context of Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS), is primarily focused on the collection of environmental data related to meteorological conditions. These stations typically gather a range of information such as temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, rainfall, and atmospheric pressure. This data is crucial for understanding weather patterns and making informed decisions regarding fire behavior, especially in wildfire management and prevention efforts.

The function of a met station aligns directly with the goals of RAWS, which aims to provide timely and accurate weather information to assist firefighting operations and resource management. This real-time data helps predict fire spread and severity, ultimately aiding in the safety and effectiveness of firefighting strategies.

The other options, while related to environmental monitoring or fire management in some capacity, do not specifically describe the role of a met station in relation to RAWS. Weather forecasting models do not collect real-time data but instead use existing data to predict future weather patterns. Geographical locations for fire camps are logistical in nature, supporting firefighting operations rather than collecting meteorological data. Monitoring tools for air quality focus specifically on pollutants in the atmosphere rather than broad meteorological data collection.