ENG-2011 — Page 359

The Environment 311

Oceanographic Service

The observatory produces an annual Hong Kong tide table, provides forecasts of wind, weather, wave and swells for fishermen and mariners, and issue warnings about storm surges and tsunamis. It advises Government departments and the engineering community on physical oceanographic matters. In 2011, it co-ordinated the Government's participation in the Pacific-wide tsunami exercise, organised by the UNESCO's Inter-governmental Oceanographic Commission.

Geophysical Service

The observatory monitors earthquakes around the world and posts information about these occurrences on its website, through the media and other social media platforms.

Astronomical Service

The observatory provides information about astronomical occurrences such as solar and lunar eclipses. It also publishes the traditional Chinese calendar, and astronomical almanacs.

Official Time Standard

As Hong Kong's official time keeper, the observatory maintains a Time Standard that is accurate to within one ten-millionth of a second per day and contributes to the determination of Co-ordinated Universal Time by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures. Time checks are available to the public through its Dial-a- Weather System, local radio stations, web clocks and the Internet network time service, with the latter handling about 1.4 billion checks in 2011, an increase of about 42 per cent over 2010.

Public Education

To promote public awareness of hazardous weather and climate change, the observatory carries out a broad range of educational and outreach activities. The 'Community Weather Information Network', managed by the observatory in collaboration with the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, fosters close co-operation with schools and the community to enhance weather education in Hong Kong. The network received the prestigious Royal Meteorological Society award for 'Weather Observing and Instrumentation' in 2011.

Websites

Environment Bureau: www.enb.gov.hk

Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department: www.afcd.gov.hk

Environmental Protection Department: www.epd.gov.hk

Electrical and Mechanical Services Department: www.emsd.gov.hk

Sustainable Development Division: www.susdev.gov.hk

Council for Sustainable Development: www.susdev.org.hk

Civil Engineering and Development Department: www.cedd.gov.hk Hong Kong Observatory: www.hko.gov.hk and www.weather.gov.hk MyObservatory: www.weather.gov.hk/myobservatory_e.htm MyWorldWeather: worldweather.wmo.int/MyWorldWeather