THE ENVIRONMENT
meteorology, and radiation monitoring and assessment. The Observatory also administers the official time standard for Hong Kong, provides basic astronomical information and maintains a seismological monitoring network.
The Observatory issues weather forecasts and warnings of hazardous weather to the public, mariners, the civil aviation community as well as special users such as port and container terminal operators.
Whenever Hong Kong is threatened by tropical cyclones, frequent warnings are widely disseminated through the mass media. A colour-coded rainstorm warning system warns people of heavy rain. The Observatory also issues warnings on thunderstorms, landslips, fire danger, strong monsoon, cold and very hot weather, and frost. An advisory service on the ultraviolet (UV) index is also provided.
To promote public education and awareness regarding hazardous weather, the Observatory began in 2003 to run basic meteorological courses for members of the public and government personnel, and organised guided tours of the Observatory, exhibitions, popular scientific lectures and Open Days.
Besides presenting regular weather programmes on television, the Observatory's meteorologists also give interviews and briefings on the radio and television during adverse weather.
While the Dial-a-Weather service provides recorded weather messages to the public, the Telephone Information Enquiry System serves as an interactive means for the public to obtain a variety of meteorological, geophysical and time information by phone or by fax.
The Observatory operates a website displaying a great variety of information. The website also features an audio version for the visually impaired and a WAP (Wireless Application Protocol) version for mobile phone users. In 2003, weather information at Victoria Peak and at Ngong Ping on Lantau Island was added to the website to enhance the coverage of regional weather information for the public and tourists. The Observatory website recorded over 330 million hits in 2003. The Observatory also manages two websites set up on behalf of the World Meteorological Organisation to make available official weather warnings and forecasts around the world to the international community.
Weather Monitoring and Forecasting
The Observatory exchanges weather observations and forecasts with the rest of the world under the framework of the World Meteorological Organisation. In addition, it exchanges weather radar imageries and observations of automatic weather stations with the meteorological bureaux of Guangdong and Macau. The Observatory monitors the weather using a wide range of equipment including meteorological satellites ground stations, Doppler weather radars, automatic weather stations, weather buoys, radiosondes carried by balloons as well as wind profilers. These are augmented by observations from aircraft and Voluntary Observing Ships. The Observatory also operates tide gauges to monitor raised sea levels and coastal flooding caused by tropical cyclones.
To mitigate damage due to floods and landslips, rainstorm and landslip warnings are issued based on the objective guidance provided by a 'nowcasting' system developed by the Observatory. This system automatically analyses radar and
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