RA II WIGOS Workshop 6-8 November 2018, Beijing, China

1. Hong Kong, China Dr. Chi-kin Pan Acting Senior Scientific Officer Hong Kong Observatory RA II WIGOS Workshop 6-8 November 2018, Beijing, China

2. Outline • Introduction to Hong Kong, China and Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) • Physical context of Hong Kong • Requirements for observations in Hong Kong • Summary of observing capabilities of HKO • WIGOS implementation status of HKO

3. Introduction to Hong Kong, China and Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) I. Overview (i) Basic information of Hong Kong, China • Area: 1 104 km2; • Population: 7.449 m (as of mid-2018) • Sub-tropical climate Japan CHINA (ii) Major historical meteorological disaster events • Typhoon and storm surge • Flooding and landslide due to severe thunderstorms and rainstorms (iii) Major economic sectors relying on Met Services • The whole economy, including financial, public utilities, shipping, transportation, tourism, etc. 2218’N 11410’E HK India Philippines

4. Weather of Hong Kong Recent typhoon casualties (after 1960)(but >10,000 deaths in 1906 and in 1937, >2,000 in 1874) Ave no. of TC : 6.4 / yr Mean annual rainfall: 2240.2 mm Highest annual rainfall: 3343.0 mm(1997) Highest hourly rainfall: 145.5 mm/h(7 Jun 2008, 09 HKT)

5. Introduction to Hong Kong, China and Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) Vision-Mission-Values II. Brief introduction to HKO • (i) HKO’s Mission, Mandate • Weather services and warnings • Climatological services • Aviation weather services • Marine weather • Radiation monitoring and assessment • Geophysical service, i.e. Astronomy and tide, earthquake and tsunami • Time standard

6. Introduction to Hong Kong, China and Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) II. Brief introduction to HKO • (ii) Organizational Structure (Total 300+ staff)

7. Physical context of Hong Kong

8. Physical context of Hong Kong

9. Requirements for observations in Hong Kong Top hazardous weather of concern in Hong Kong • Priority application areas • Tropical cyclones • Aviation safety • thunderstorms • tropical cyclones • turbulence • icing • mountain wave • volcanic ash • Severe thunderstorms and rainstorms Avg. no. of heavy rain days with hrly rainfall ≥ 30 mm in each month (1971-2000) – flooding and landslides

10. Requirements for observations in Hong Kong II. Most relevant measurements:

11. Summary of observing capabilities of HKO Ocean and Terrestrial Observations Weather Buoy Tide Gauge Manual, automatic and aeronautical meteorological stations Forward Scatterer Drift Buoy • Runway Visual Range Transmissometer

12. Summary of observing capabilities of HKO Atmospheric Observations Wind profiler CO2 monitoring station Aerosol mass concentration monitoring station Upper-air sounding system CO2 sensor Radiometer Lightning sensor Solar radiation sensors Lightning network

13. Summary of observing capabilities of HKO Atmospheric Observations Doppler weather radar Satellite Reception Systems Aircraft Meteorological Data Relay (AMDAR) Ceilometer Doppler Lidar

14. WIGOS Implementation Status of HKO • HKO recognises the importance of a comprehensive, consistent and sustained observing system to support the delivery of public weather services and the need for international collaboration with particular attention paid to the use of observations for climate monitoring. • HKO makes reference to all WMO guidance materials and requirements in maintaining and developing its weather observation network. • Strategic planning for observational instruments serving the Hong Kong International Airport follows closely the trend of international requirements for civil aviation. • HKO will continue to follow all WMO and WIGOS guidelines and requirements in relation to weather observation. I. WIGOS Observing Strategy II. WIGOS Implementation Plan and Governance Mechanism • Within HKO’s management hierarchy, the “Weather and Radiation Observation Networks” Division, the “Meteorological Forecast Systems” Division, the “Environmental Radiation Monitoring and Meteorological Measurements” Division, the “Radar and Satellite Meteorology” Division and the “Forecast Systems” Division are overseeing observing systems over the territory. The aforesaid divisions will provide foundation for the WIGOS implementation. • A high level committee, Instrument Committee, consisting of the directorates and representatives of the relevant division heads dealing with meteorological and climatological data, makes decisions and steers the progress of the WIGOS implementation. In particular, Instrument Committee will deliberate and decide on the planning and resources related to observational systems, including expansion of observation networks, introduction of new instruments and technology. • Activities undertaken within the aforesaid divisions will address the planning for WIGOS implementation. • Capacity development, communication, outreach and standardization, system interoperability and data compatibility activities will be carried out across other divisions of HKO.

15. WIGOS Implementation Status of HKO • HKO has established close collaboration with a number of NMHSs and regional meteorological agencies with a view to enhancing data sharing and services improvement. • A number of local universities or research institutes are also engaged to perform joint research projects with HKO. • HKO also cooperates with other Hong Kong government departments in relation to observations. Examples include the Civil Engineering and Development Department and the Drainage Services Department on rain gauge data; the Government Flying Service in conducting reconnaissance flights to collect crucial meteorological data in the vicinity of tropical cyclones over the South China Sea; the Environmental Protection Department on air pollution concentration data; the Marine Department on tide and visibility data; etc. • HKO will explore the concept of GCOS National Committee for Hong Kong, China in order to facilitate enhanced observing systems for climate and data sharing. • HKO will cooperate further with other departments on data collection and sharing, e.g. the Government Flying Service on future dropsonde capability. III. Collaboration for integration and open-sharing of observations from NMHSs and non-NMHSs IV. OSCAR/Surface updated with WIGOS metadata for which observations are exchanged internationally • No. of reporting stations updated by HKO in OSCAR/Surface: 21 • No. of staff trained in OSCAR/Surface: 6 • Updating of metadata in progress V. WIGOS Station Identifiers: implemented VI. WIGOS Data Quality Monitoring System (WDQMS): • Automatic quality-checked (QC) algorithms for Automatic Weather Station (AWS) data are developed which assign QC flags to each observation data showing the data quality. • Prior to exchange of observations via WIS, real-time quality control of surface observations by AWS Automatic Data Quality Assurance System (Auto-QC), Aviaiton Meteorological Observing System (AMOS) QC processes or weather observers. • Real-time quality control of upper-air observations is carried out by weather observers. VII. National focal points (WIGOS NFP and OSCAR/Surface NFP) nominated

16. Thank you ckpan@hko.gov.hk