New ambient gamma radiation information launched by the Observatory at Chek Lap Kok and Cape D'Aguilar

25 April 2012

The Hong Kong Observatory has set up two radiation monitoring stations at Chek Lap Kok on Lantau Island and Cape D'Aguilar (Hok Tsui) on Hong Kong Island South. The number of radiation monitoring stations has increased from ten to twelve (Figure 1), providing a more comprehensive coverage in the round-the-clock monitoring of ambient gamma radiation levels over Hong Kong. The new radiation monitoring stations are now under trial operation. Starting today (25 April), hourly-averaged data from these two stations (Figure 2) will be made available on the following web page:
http://www.weather.gov.hk/radiation/ermp/rmn/applet/map/rmn_hourly_e.htm

The real-time ambient gamma radiation levels from the two new radiation monitoring stations will also be available at "MyObservatory", a smartphone application developed by the Observatory, in the next upgrade.

Ambient gamma radiation levels may vary due to natural causes such as geological conditions, rainfall, pressure and airflow. In Hong Kong, the normal values typically range between 0.06 and 0.30 microsievert (?Sv) per hour.

Figure 1: The Observatory's network of radiation monitoring stations. Inside the red boxes are the
locations of the new radiation monitoring stations at Chek Lap Kok and Cape D'Aguilar.

Hourly Mean Dose Rate at Chek Lap Kok

Hourly Mean Dose Rate at Cape D'Aguilar

Figure 2: Real-time data of ambient gamma radiation levels from the radiation monitoring
stations at Chek Lap Kok and Cape D'Aguilar as shown on the Observatory's web page.