ENG-1998 — Page 491

THE ENVIRONMENT

Aviation Meteorology

The Observatory operates the Airport Meteorological Office (AMO) at the Hong Kong International Airport to provide services for civil aviation. Besides keeping watch and warning of hazardous weather over the Hong Kong Flight Information Region, the AMO provides flight documentation to aircraft departing Hong Kong. This includes weather forecasts for destination aerodromes, prognostic charts of significant weather en-route and forecast wind and temperature data appropriate to cruising levels.

Meteorological facilities and services for the new airport at Chek Lap Kok were established. Transition of operations from the Airport Meteorological Office at Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok was smooth and successful. Meteorological facilities for the second runway at Chek Lap Kok were installed and would be ready for the runway's commissioning.

Radiation Measurement and Assessment

The Observatory operates an Environmental Radiation Monitoring Programme to monitor radiation levels in Hong Kong. The programme, begun in 1987, entails the regular collection and measurement of samples of air, water, soil and food at several sites in Hong Kong. Measurements from 1987 to 1991 were analysed to determine Hong Kong's background radiation levels and the results published in early 1993. Thereafter, bulletins on the prevailing radiation levels have been published annually. A network has also been established for continuous monitoring of the ambient gamma dose rate in Hong Kong and to warn of any deviation from normal levels. Data are disseminated to the media daily and published in a bulletin every month. In any emergency, the Observatory will intensify radiation monitoring and assess the radiological and meteorological information collected to estimate the transport, dispersion and deposition of any radioactivity over Hong Kong. An Aerial Monitoring System was acquired to further enhance the capability of radiation monitoring in a nuclear contingency. This system would be flown on a helicopter to monitor radiation levels on the ground and at various altitudes over Hong Kong. The Observatory will also provide technical advice to government on any necessary

counter-measures.

Climatological, Oceanographic and Geophysical Services

Climatological information finds applications in activities ranging from recreation through engineering design and environmental impact analysis to litigation. To meet the demand for such information, the Hong Kong Observatory operates a climatological information service on a cost-recovery basis. The data available include land and upper-air observations from Hong Kong and neighbouring countries, marine weather observations from voluntary observing ships, and tidal observations.

The Observatory produces an annual tide table for Hong Kong. It also provides assessments of the probabilities of occurrence of extreme storm surges and advice on oceanographic matters to other government departments and the engineering community.

To monitor earthquake activities in the vicinity of Hong Kong, the Observatory operates a network of eight short-period seismograph stations. Long-period

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