ENG-2016 — Page 307

15

The Environment

locations in Hong Kong, and improved the 'Met on Map' web portal to offer information including global satellite mosaics, visibility and relative humidity, and lightning locations.

The Observatory also launched a 'Weather Note' webpage to communicate better with the public about interesting weather issues, and 'Post of the Day' to give daily online reminders on weather, climate and related news through social media and MyObservatory, which was extended to wearable devices. The 'Weather Information for Outdoor Photography' and 'Hong Kong Weather Information for Tourists' websites were launched to provide weather photographs round the clock, including pictures taken at the Victoria Peak.

The Observatory issues weather forecasts and warnings, and offers professional advice to government departments and the aviation, shipping, engineering and other sectors. It provides aviation weather services for the Hong Kong International Airport and the Hong Kong Flight Information Region, and issues forecasts of wind, weather, waves and swells for the marine community, container terminals, fishermen and mariners. The Observatory also disseminates warnings in the event of storm surges caused by tropical cyclones. In an ongoing collaboration with the Government Flying Service, a new meteorological dropsonde system was deployed in 2016 to collect meteorological profile data over the South China Sea when conditions allowed, to strengthen the analysis and forecasting of tropical cyclones.

Climate Services and Climate Change Related Studies

The Observatory provides climatological information and climate prediction services, including updates of phenomena such as El Niño and La Niña, an annual outlook on rainfall and the number of tropical cyclones affecting Hong Kong, and projections of seasonal temperature and rainfall. Climate services offered to government departments and stakeholders cover disaster risk reduction, public health, water resources, urban planning and energy. The Observatory also conducts research on past trends and future projections of temperature, rainfall, sea level and extreme weather in Hong Kong, based on the latest assessment of global warming by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and provides the latest climate change information and assessment in support of policymaking and initiatives to combat climate change. In 2016, the Observatory jointly produced short videos and educational TV programmes on climate change and its impact in collaboration with stakeholders and partners, published the second edition of a climate change pamphlet, 'Hong Kong in a Warming World' and launched a revamped webpage on climate change.

Radiation Monitoring and Assessment

The Observatory operates 12 radiation monitoring stations to monitor ambient radiation levels and measures the amount of radioactivity in environmental samples. In the unlikely event of a nuclear incident, the Observatory will step up its radiation monitoring activities, work with other government departments to provide decision makers with an assessment of radiological consequences and advise on actions to take. Relevant information on radiation levels and the latest developments will be provided to the public through various channels. A new computer system to assess nuclear accident consequences was put into operation in 2016. The Observatory also enhances radiation monitoring and assessment capabilities through active collaboration with its Mainland and international counterparts.

249