XN000022-1973-03-04 — Page 5

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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