The Hong Kong Observatory began disseminating high resolution satellite images of the Hong Kong and Pearl River Delta Region Thursday, thanks to a new satellite reception system which went into operation last month.

The system receives high resolution images from two earth observing satellites (EOS) of US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Each of these satellites passes over Hong Kong twice each day at a height of 700 km.

By combining the high resolution images taken in different spectral channels, the observatory has closer views of the weather systems affecting Hong Kong. Besides monitoring weather changes, processed images produced by the Observatory also provide effective and timely information about the atmosphere, sea and land in Hong Kong and its vicinity.

The observatory has been communicating with local universities and other government departments on the collaborative exploration of this valuable information. More images will be made available to the public through the observatory's website.

The Acting Assistant Director of the Hong Kong Observatory, H G Wai, said that with the visible and sea surface temperature images disseminated by the observatory, the public could easily visualize the cloud, fog, haze and sea surface temperature over Hong Kong and the neighboring land and sea, enabling better appreciation of the changes in weather as mentioned in the observatory's reports and forecasts.

Source: Xinhua