Hong Kong Observatory's Nowcasting System will support the
specialized weather forecasting service for the Olympics and a
trial version will be shipped to Beijing this summer for a
preliminary demonstration, according to a government press release
on Thursday.
Visiting the observatory on Thursday, Hong Kong Chief Executive
Donald Tsang lauded the Hong Kong Observatory for enhancing its
weather forecast accuracy and said he was glad Hong Kong will use
advanced technology to support the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
To support the Olympic equestrian event in Hong Kong, the
observatory has also developed a system to monitor a horse's heat
stress, and will collect the necessary climatological data starting
this summer.
"The Olympics is an important event for our country," Tsang
said. "I am glad the observatory will use advanced technologies to
serve the country and Hong Kong."
While visiting the Central Forecasting Office, Tsang watched are
play of the sequence of weather events during the approach of
Typhoon Chanchu last month.
"It is important to predict accurately the movement of a
tropical cyclone so that workers and students can plan their
transport arrangements as early as possible."
Tsang then visited the observatory's television studio to see
how a single professional meteorologist produced an entire weather
program. He said television weather programs brought observatory
colleagues closer to the public.
(Xinhua News Agency June 2, 2006)