King's Park Past and Present

King’s Park Meteorological Station Nowadays

In addition to upper air observations, the Observatory also conducts other surface meteorological observations at the King’s Park Meteorological Station (KPMS), including air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, atmospheric pressure, wind direction and wind speed, UV radiation, solar radiation, sunshine duration, wet bulb globe temperature, grass temperature, soil temperature, evaporation and potential evapotranspiration, as well as carbon dioxide concentration. Furthermore, there is a radiation monitoring station and a radiation laboratory at the KPMS to monitor environmental radiation levels and carry out radiological measurements of environmental samples.

The following is a review of the history and important milestones of the KPMS.

1951

The King’s Park Radiosonde Station was commissioned

Routine upper air meteorological observation started at King’s Park on 1 June 1951.

The Wah Kiu Yat Po published on 23 February 1951 reported that a meteorological station was being built at King’s Park, Kowloon, which would be used for the launching of sounding balloons. (Courtesy of South China Morning Post which owns the copyright of press cutting of Wah Kiu Yat Po)

Photo showing the meteorological station (blue arrow) on a small hilltop at King’s Park in the 1950s. (Photo courtesy of Mr Shun Chi-ming, former Director of the Observatory)

In the Kung Sheung Daily News published on 10 November 1951, it was reported that the then Governor, Sir Alexander Grantham, officiated at the opening ceremony of the newly established meteorological station on 9 November. (Photograph courtesy of The Robert H.N. Ho Family Foundation)

1951

Measurement of evapotranspiration, atmospheric pressure, air temperature, dew point temperature and daily rainfall commenced

In 1951, the meteorological station began to use an evapotranspiration measuring device (known as a lysimeter) to measure "possible evapotranspiration". The collected data were used for irrigation planning. The measurement of atmospheric pressure, air temperature, dew point temperature and daily rainfall also started in the same year.

Lysimeters built in 1951. The three devices were built using bricks and cement, filled with soil and planted with short grass.

The current lysimeters

(This link will open in a new windowClick here for details or watch the This link will open in a new windowvideo clip about evaporation and potential evapotranspiration)

1952

Rainfall rate measurement commenced

1957

Measurement of grass temperature and soil temperature bagan

1958

Routine measurement of evaporation began

Two evaporation pans were installed in 1957 and routine measurement of evaporation commenced in the following year.

Evaporation pan at present

(This link will open in a new windowClick here for details or watch the This link will open in a new windowvideo clip about evaporation and potential evapotranspiration)

1959

Global solar radiation measurement commenced

Bimetallic actinograph for measurement of solar radiation

1961

Use of sunshine recorder to record sunshine duration

The photo shows the Campbell-Stokes Sunshine Recorder used at King’s Park. The glass sphere focuses sunshine to leave burnt marks on the record card. Total sunshine duration was calculated manually based on the length of the burnt marks. The instrument was installed at King’s Park in 1957, and was put into official operation in 1961.

1961

Measurement of atmospheric radioactivity began

In the 1960’s, Observatory staff conducting radioactivity measurement at King’s Park.

1964

Reception of automatic picture transmission (APT) signal from polar-orbiting meteorological satellites

Observatory staff using home-made antenna to receive satellite pictures at King’s Park in the mid-1960s

Observatory staff using home-made antenna to receive satellite pictures at King’s Park in the mid-1960s

1986

The Radiation Laboratory at King’s Park was set up

The Observatory set up a laboratory at King’s Park equipped with radiological measurement instruments for radiological analysis of samples.

King’s Park Radiation Laboratory (with railings on top) in the 1980’s

Photo taken at the same position at the KPMS at present. The building with blue railings on top is the radiation laboratory. On the left of the photo are instruments of the radiation monitoring station, while the Automatic Upper Air Sounding System is on the right.

1987

Began to use high pressure ionizing chamber (HPIC) for real-time radiation monitoring

In 1987, the Observatory established HPICs at King's Park, Tsim Bei Tsui, Sha Tau Kok and Yuen Ng Fan to measure the environmental gamma dose rate in real time. Data are transmitted back instantly to the radiation laboratory for monitoring purpose.

HPIC at King’s Park Radiation Monitoring Station (circled in red).

(This link will open in a new windowClick here for real-time ambient radiation level in Hong Kong)

1992

Became the reference synoptic station

The synoptic station for Hong Kong was migrated from the Observatory Headquarters to the KPMS on 1 July 1992, and subsequently to the Hong Kong International Airport on 1 April 2000.

1999

Measurement of UV index began

The broadband UV sensor at the KPMS

2004

Automatic Upper Air Sounding System commenced operation

In 2004, the Observatory installed the Automatic Upper Air Sounding System at the KPMS, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia, to automatically inflate and launch balloons.

Automatic Upper Air Sounding System at the KPMS

(This link will open in a new windowClick here for Upper-air Weather Measurements)

2005

Use of sunshine duration meter for fully automatic measurement

Since 2005, sunshine duration has been recorded by fully automatic sunshine duration meter. Daily manual change of record card was no longer necessary.

Fully automatic sunshine duration meter

2008

Direct solar radiation and diffuse solar radiation measurement commenced

Instrument for measurement of direct solar radiation and diffuse solar radiation

2009

King’s Park Radiation Laboratory received accreditation for its radiation measurement service

The King’s Park Radiation Laboratory received ISO 9001:2008 accreditation for its radiation measurement service

2009

carbon dioxide measurement commenced

The carbon dioxide analyser at the KPMS

2014

Measurement of Hong Kong Heat Index at King’s Park went online

The heat stress monitoring system installed at the KPMS

(This link will open in a new windowclick here for the video clip about Hong Kong Heat Index, or This link will open in a new windowhere for the real-time measurement data)

2019

King’s Park upper air meteorological station was awarded a certificate by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in recognition of its long-term contribution

Former Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, Mr. Shun Chi-ming (right) receiving a certificate from Mr. Tim Oakley (left), Network Manager of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) in November 2019, which recognized the Observatory’s upper air meteorological station for its long-term contributions to the GCOS Upper-Air Network (GUAN).

2020

Launch of balloon with cryogenic frostpoint hygrometer

In 2020, the King’s Park Upper Air Meteorological Station became a candidate site of the GCOS Reference Upper Air Network (GRUAN) of the WMO, for launching cryogenic frost-point hygrometer monthly as required to provide long-term and high-quality upper-air atmospheric water vapor content data to the meteorological community.

Observatory staff launching a balloon with the cryogenic frostpoint hygrometer at the KPMS

2021

Recognized by the WMO as a centennial upper air observing station

In 2021, the upper air observing station in Hong Kong became the world’s first centennial upper air observing station recognised by the WMO.

The long-term observing station accreditation certificate awarded by the WMO to the Hong Kong Upper Air Observing Station.