The Observatory and the shipping community working together to enhance meteorological observation over the South China Sea

10 July 2015

In June this year, the Hong Kong Observatory and Orient Overseas Container Line (OOCL) Limited, a member of the Hong Kong Observatory Shipping Community Liaison Group, joined hands to conduct trial studies in making use of ocean-going vessels to enhance meteorological observation over the South China Sea. The results and outcome were found to be very satisfactory.

Dr. Lam Hok-yin, Scientific Officer, and Mr. Fung Kwok-chu, Senior Scientific Assistant, went aboard an OOCL container vessel “M.V. OOCL Busan” from 13 to 18 June. During its voyage from Hong Kong to Singapore, seven weather balloons carrying radiosondes were successively launched from a portable upper-air sounding system to collect meteorological data such as air temperature, humidity, wind direction and wind speed in the upper atmosphere over the South China Sea.

In the meantime, the Hong Kong Observatory engaged another OOCL container vessel “M.V. OOCL ATLANTA” to deploy a drifter buoy, equipped with air pressure and sea surface temperature sensors, over the central part of the South China Sea on 26 June. The buoy, carried along by ocean currents over a data-sparse sea area, was able to make in-situ air pressure and sea surface temperature measurement and transmitted the data to the Observatory on an hourly basis via satellite.

The two aforementioned trials were the results of fruitful collaboration between the Observatory and the shipping community, and represented new milestones for the Observatory in marine meteorological observations. The gathering of more meteorological data will support weather monitoring over the South China Sea and the surrounding areas, enhance the forecasting capability of tropical cyclones and contribute to navigation safety in the region.