What is the purpose of the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS)?

The Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) is designed to provide real-time weather data to pilots and air traffic controllers. This system is critical for flight safety as it delivers crucial information, such as wind speed and direction, visibility, temperature, and atmospheric pressure, on a continuous basis. The minute-by-minute updates from AWOS allow operators to make informed decisions regarding flight operations and navigational planning based on the most current weather conditions, thereby enhancing situational awareness and reducing the risk of weather-related incidents.

While other options relate to various aspects of aviation safety and operations, they do not accurately describe the primary function of AWOS. For instance, air traffic density estimation focuses on monitoring aircraft movements rather than weather conditions, broadcasting restricted airspace locations pertains to airspace management, and assisting in rescue operations, though important, is not a direct function of AWOS. Therefore, option C encapsulates the essence of what AWOS is intended to do in the context of aviation.