Observatory runs training course for World Meteorological Organisation

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) is running a training course, "Provision of Weather Service via the Internet", from December 1 to 5 for meteorologists from around the world. The training course is one of the activities under the Voluntary Co-operation Programme of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

This is the fourth time that the HKO has organised a training course for the WMO, indicating recognition of the work of the HKO by the international meteorological community. The demand for the training course was overwhelming, with more than 30 applications received. Six meteorologists from Armenia, Guinea, the Maldives, Nepal, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan have been selected to attend the training course.

The HKO has been providing weather services on the Internet since 1996. The observatory website is one of the most popular government websites in Hong Kong. Its contents, operational mode and usage rank among the best in the world.

In 2000, the observatory was tasked by WMO with developing and operating two websites on world weather, namely the "World Weather Information Service" and "Severe Weather Information Centre" websites, in collaboration with national meteorological services around the world. These two authoritative worldwide weather websites have won wide acclaim from the international meteorological community.

Mr Ali Shareef, a participant from the Maldives said the training course offered him a valuable opportunity to learn about the development and management of a real-time weather information website. "I am very impressed by the observatory's sophisticated website and its excellent service," he said.

The training course aims to enhance the capability of trainees in providing weather information via the Internet and utilising the diverse weather information available on the Internet. Participants on the course are expected to contribute to the development of their own Internet weather services on return to their home countries. This will further enhance the exchange of meteorological information across the world.

Participants of the training course having hands-on experience during a practical session