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| '''Hong Kong Observatory''' (]: 香港天文台; ]: hēung góng tīn màhn tòih, ]: hoeng1 gong2 tin1 man4 toi4; ] ]: Xiānggǎng Tiānwén Tái), known as the '''Royal Observatory''' (Chinese: 皇家香港天文台) before ], is a department of the ] of the ] ] of the ]. 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. | '''Hong Kong Observatory''' (]: 香港天文台; ]: hēung góng tīn màhn tòih, ]: hoeng1 gong2 tin1 man4 toi4; ] ]: Xiānggǎng Tiānwén Tái), known as the '''Royal Observatory''' (Chinese: 皇家香港天文台) before ], is a department of the ] of the ] ] of the ]. 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. | ||
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| ==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
Revision as of 07:01, 15 December 2005
Hong Kong Observatory (Chinese: 香港天文台; Yale: hēung góng tīn màhn tòih, Jyutping: hoeng1 gong2 tin1 man4 toi4; Mandarin Pinyin: Xiānggǎng Tiānwén Tái), known as the Royal Observatory (Chinese: 皇家香港天文台) before 1997, is a department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. 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.
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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 resources center, providing information on weather, climate, oceanology, meterology and other related information.
Outreach activities and publicity
The Friends of the Observatory, an interest group set up in 1996 to help the Observatory to better identify the needs of the public, now has more than 4 600 members. Activities organized for the Friends of the Observatory include regular science lectures and visits to Observatory’s facilities. Newsletters were also published for members once every four months. The Observatory regularly organizes visits by secondary school students. This outreach programme was extended to primary school students and the elderly in recent years. 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. A conveniently located resource centre is open to the public for easy access of information provided by the Observatory.