How is wind shear detected at an airport?

Wind shear at an airport is effectively detected through the use of Low Level Wind Shear Alert Systems (LLWAS) data. LLWAS consists of a network of ground-based anemometers that measure wind speed and direction at various locations around an airport. These measurements are crucial for identifying sudden changes in wind velocity over short distances, which is a primary characteristic of wind shear.

The system continuously monitors the conditions and alerts air traffic controllers and pilots when potentially dangerous wind shear phenomena are detected, particularly during takeoff and landing phases, when aircraft are most vulnerable to sudden changes in wind.

Other methods, such as measuring temperature differences, using ground wind observations, or employing satellite imagery, do not offer the same level of precision or immediacy in detecting the rapid and localized changes in wind that are indicative of wind shear. While these other tools can provide valuable meteorological information, they are not directly designed to monitor or alert for wind shear in real-time at the airport like LLWAS is.