328 The Environment
The Observatory also administers the official time standard for Hong Kong, provides astronomical information and maintains a seismological monitoring network,
The Observatory issues weather forecasts and warnings of hazardous weather to the public, mariners, the aviation community and special users such as container terminals and transport operators.
Whenever Hong Kong is threatened by tropical cyclones, 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 monsoons, cold and very hot weather, frost and tsunamis. An advisory service on the ultraviolet (UV) index is also provided.
To promote public education and awareness about hazardous weather, the Observatory runs a programme of meteorological courses for members of the public and government personnel, exhibitions, scientific lectures, Open Days and guided tours of the Observatory.
The Observatory's meteorologists host regular TV and radio weather programmes. Additional media briefings are conducted in case of adverse weather. In addition to an automatic telephone enquiry system and a highly popular Internet site, a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) website specially designed for mobile users was launched in 2004. Animated sequences of radar displays and the weather information at three popular tourist spots were also added to the Observatory's website It remained one of the Government's most popular websites, recording over 360 million hits in 2004.
The Observatory takes an active role in fostering international cooperation to enhance weather services. The Observatory develops and manages two websites on behalf of the World Meteorological Organisation, which make available official weather observations, forecasts and warnings around the world to the international community. In 2004, Hong Kong hosted the 13th Session of the World Meteorological Organisation Regional Association II (Asia). The Director of the Hong Kong Observatory was elected as the Vice President of the Association at the session.
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, the Observatory exchanges weather radar images and observations of automatic weather stations with the meteorological authorities of Guangdong and Macao. The Observatory monitors the weather using a wide range of equipment including meteorological satellites, weather radars, automatic weather stations, weather buoys, upper-air sounding system and wind profilers. These observing systems are augmented by observations from aircraft and voluntary observing ships. The Observatory also operates tide gauges to monitor the sea-level.
In 2004, a replacement upper-air sounding system capable of automated balloon launching was installed. The Observatory started to receive high-resolution imagery
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