The Environment | 329
from earth observing satellites in mid 2004, and produced high-quality true-colour images for reference by the Hong Kong public via the Observatory's website.
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 rain gauge data and forecasts rainfall distribution in Hong Kong in the next few hours.
High-resolution numerical weather prediction models operated by the Observatory as well as those of meteorological centres overseas constitute the backbone of weather forecasting. They are used in support of weather forecasts up to seven days ahead. A new web page was launched in 2004 to display forecast weather charts produced by the Observatory's own computer model, to provide the public with information on changing weather patterns in the region.
In 2004, the Observatory's tropical cyclone warning service was enhanced to include new features such as 72-hour tropical cyclone intensity forecasts and a Chinese version of the Tropical Cyclone Warning for Shipping.
During the Athens Olympic Games in 2004, the Observatory for the first time provided meteorological support to the Hong Kong Olympic windsurfing team. A computer model was run to produce tailor-made weather information on a dedicated website accessible by the team during the Games.
Aviation Weather Services
The Observatory's Airport Meteorological Office is responsible for providing weather services for civil aviation for a designated airspace over the northern part of the South China Sea.
The infrared Doppler Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) system at Hong Kong International Airport became operational in May 2004, strengthening significantly the windshear monitoring capability at the airport. It captured for the first time in Hong Kong wind data around a tornado on September 6, 2004.
The Observatory also developed an automatic windshear detection method utilising weather buoys installed around the airport to improve alerts on windshear caused by sea breeze.
Radiation Measurement and Assessment
The Observatory operates a network of 10 radiation monitoring stations to continuously monitor radiation levels in Hong Kong. Samples of air, water, soil and food are regularly collected over various parts of Hong Kong and their radiological contents measured.
If a nuclear emergency occurs or is likely to occur, the Observatory will immediately intensify radiation monitoring, collect relevant information for assessing the radiological consequences and provide technical advice to the relevant policy bureaux regarding the appropriate protective actions to take.