Definition
Weather observation parameters that are measured directly by automated sensors, producing numerical values without requiring human interpretation. In ASOS/AWSS reports, objective elements include items such as temperature, dew point, wind, altimeter setting, and precipitation accumulation.
Plain English
The parts of a weather report that come straight from instruments as numbers, with no person deciding what they mean.
Context Anchor
Seen in discussions of ASOS and AWSS airport weather stations and the weather information they can automatically report to pilots.
Derivation
From Latin 'objectivus,' meaning something external and measurable, as opposed to 'subjective,' which depends on a person's judgment. In weather reporting, objective elements are the readings the machine can produce on its own; subjective elements would need a human observer.
Why Pilots Care
Knowing which parts of an automated weather report are sensor-measured helps pilots judge how reliable each piece of information is, and which parts (like cloud type or distant weather) may be missing because no human is augmenting the report.
Intuition Check
Do not read objective as meaning “goal” or “purpose” here. In this context, objective means measured or fact-based, not based on someone’s personal judgment.
Example Sentence 1
The temperature and dew point in the ASOS report are objective elements, taken directly from the station's sensors.
Example Sentence 2
Pilots can trust the objective elements on the METAR because they come straight from the sensors.