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Sunday, March 4, 1973
COMPUTER FOR ROYAL OBSERVATORY
For More Accurate Weather Forecasta
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The Royal Observatory will soon install a new computer which
will assist in the production of weather forecasts.
When fully operational, it will make Hong Kong the second place
in the Far East, next to Japan, to use computer techniques in weather
forecasting.
The computer will process and analyse all incoming communication
circuits and available meteorological data quickly, so that more accurate
and timely forecasts can be prepared at more frequent intervals
It should prove particularly useful in preparing tropical cyclone
and severe rainstorm warnings quickly, so as to minimise damage to property,
loss of lives and interruption to economic activities.
The computer will also be able to analyse weather information
over a much wider area and higher altitude, thereby increasing the
reliability of weather forecasts for aviation and marine purposes.
It can also be used to prepare special analyses of meteorological
data and forecasts which are essential for the planning of major development
projects such as the extension of the airport runway, the design of the
High Island Water Scheme and the construction of the rapid transit system.
At present, all these are done manually by using relatively
simple techniques and it takes many man-hours to analyse all available
information and prepare a forecast.
With the