The measuring, recording, and transmitting of data of the variable elements of weather. In the United States the National Weather Service (NWS), a division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has as one of its primary responsibilities the acquisition of meteorological information. Most observations are taken by federal employees, although private citizens and private organizations such as the utilities are also involved. The data are sent by various communication methods to National Weather Service field offices and to the National Meteorological Center near Washington, D.C.