Hong Kong Observatory
Encyclopedia : H : HO : HON : Hong Kong Observatory
Hong Kong Observatory (}; Pronunciation in Cantonese: hēung góng tīn màhn tòih ? / hoeng1 gong2 tin1 man4 toi4 ? ; Pronunciation in Mandarin: Xiānggǎng Tiānwén Tái ?), known as the Royal Observatory (}) before 1997, is a department of the Hong Kong Government. The Observatory forecasts weather and issues warnings on weather-related hazards. It also monitors and makes assessments on radiation levels in Hong Kong and provides other meteorological and geophysical services to meet the needs of the public and the shipping, aviation, industrial and engineering sectors.
Overview
The Observatory was established in 1883. Early operations included meteorological and magnetic observations, a time service based on astronomical observations and a tropical cyclone warning service.The Hong Kong Observatory was built in Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon Peninsula in 1883. Observatory Road in Tsim Sha Tsui is so named based on this landmark. The observatory is now surrounded by skyscrapers as a result of rapid urbanization. However, it remains unrelocated. As a result of high greenhouse gas emission, the reflection of sunlight off buildings and the surfaces of roads, as well as the reducing vegetation, the location suffers from the heat island effect. Recorded temperatures by the observatory saw a rapid rise from 1980 to 2005 consequently. In 2002, the observatory opened its resource center at the 23rd Floor of the nearby Miramir Tower, which the public can buy the Hong Kong Observatory publications and can access different meteorological information there.
Outreach activities and publicity
The Friends of the Observatory, an interest group set up in 1996 to help the Observatory to promote Hong Kong Observatory and its services to the public, provide science extension activities in relation to the works of the Observatory and foster communication between the Observatory and the public, now has more than 7 000 individual and family members in total. Activities organized for the Friends of the Observatory include regular science lectures and visits to Observatory’s facilities. Newsletters (named 談天說地) were also published for members once every four months. Voluntary docents from this interest group lead a "HKO Guided Tour" to let the public who applied for visit in advence to visit the headquarter of the Observatory, and learn about the history, environment and meteorological science applied by the Observatory.The Observatory regularly organizes visits for the secondary school students. This outreach programme was extended to primary school students, the elderly and the community groups in the recent years. Talks are also organised in primary school during the winter time, when the officals are less busy in the severe climate issues and watchouts. A roving exhibition for the public was also mounted in shopping malls in 2003. To promote understanding of the services provided by the Observatory and their benefits to the community, over 50 press releases were issued and 7 media briefings were held in 2003.
See also
External links
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