ABSTRACT

Mr C Y Lam

Assistant Director

Hong Kong Observatory

Seeing Weather and Telling People: IT Applications at the Hong Kong Observatory

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) applies numerical modelling to compute weather forecasts in Hong Kong. Rapid increase in the computation power of affordable computers has allowed HKO to improve the resolution of its model to 60 km in 1998. It plans to improve it further to 20 km in 2000. Graphic tools enable forecasters to see the predicted evolution of weather in pictorial form.

Fast processing of image information further facilitates the very short-range forecasting of rain. Three-dimensional portrayal of rain clouds together with animation give forecasters a direct, intuitive picture of where rain is falling and where they are moving. Current computational power also allows real-time merging of radar and rain gauge data, deduction of motion field and hence extrapolation of rain pattern to yield quantitative rainfall estimates for the next couple of years.

Most importantly, computer technology enables HKO to deliver weather information service directly to its customers through a combination of means, including a computerised Dial-a-Weather Service, an interactive voice response system and an Internet homepage. The Internet homepage represents a breakthrough in that HKO is now able to provide real-time graphics telling people about the weather in Hong Kong. It will also be the key growth area.

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