THE ENVIRONMENT
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Special meteorological instruments are operated at Hong Kong International Airport, where the safety of aircraft depends on reliable and accurate meteorological measurements. Three anemometers in the airport approaches form part of an opera- tional wind shear project to provide warnings for pilots on variations in the winds occurring during the critical periods of take-off and landing.
Research
Investigations and basic research in applied meteorology and geophysics were carried out during the year in support of local industry and government activities. Meteoro- logical data and climatological information were routinely supplied to other govern- ment departments and to local and overseas institutes and organisations. More than 220 technical papers have now been published by the observatory on various aspects of local weather and on a wide variety of geophysical subjects.
The observatory is involved in numerical modelling by computer of storm surges - abnormal tide levels which occur during tropical cyclones. The findings are used to optimise design levels of sea-walls and drainage of various reclamations. Data from seven tide gauges and three wave recorders in different parts of Hong Kong is used in this investigation.
A numerical barotropic model has been developed to produce prognostic upper-air weather charts for the improvement of day-to-day weather forecasts and for the prediction of tropical cyclone movements. Climatological studies were made relating past tropical cyclone positions to the winds and rainfall in Hong Kong. The Royal Observatory has also assisted in a region-wide evaluation of objective techniques for predicting tropical cyclone movement.
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