Temperature trends in Hong Kong from a seasonal perspective

Chan, H. S.; Kok, Mang-hin; Lee, T. C.

doi:10.3354/cr01133

Cited by 43 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…1) show an average rise of 0.128C per decade from 1885 to 2010, which includes an increase of 0.158C per decade from 1952 to 2002, and 0.218C during 1971Á2010 (Chan et al, 2012). This local trend has been attributed to global warming and, to a smaller degree, urbanisation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Increase of ozone concentrations, its temperature sensitivity and the precursor factor in South China

Lee

Shindell

Faluvegi

et al. 2014

Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology

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A B S T R A C TConcerns have been raised about the possible connections between the local and regional photochemical problem and global warming. The current study assesses the trend of ozone in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta (PRD) in South China and investigates the interannual changes of sensitivity of ozone to air temperature, as well as the trends in regional precursors. Results reveal, at the three monitoring sites from the mid-1990s to 2010, an increase in the mean ozone concentrations from 1.0 to 1.6 mg m (3 per year. The increase occurred in all seasons, with the highest rate in autumn. This is consistent with trends and temperature anomalies in the region. The increase in the sensitivity of ozone to temperature is clearly evident from the correlation between ozone (OMI [Ozone Monitoring Instrument] column amount) and surface air temperature (from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder) displayed in the correlation maps for the PRD during the prominently high ozone period of JulyÁ September. It is observed to have increased from 2005 to 2010, the latter being the hottest year on record globally. To verify this temporal change in sensitivity, the ground-level trends of correlation coefficients/regression slopes are analysed. As expected, results reveal a statistically significant upward trend over a 14-year period (1997Á2010). While the correlation revealed in the correlation maps is in agreement with the corresponding OMI ozone maps when juxtaposed, temperature sensitivity of surface ozone also shows an association with ozone concentration, with R 00.5. These characteristics of ozone sensitivity are believed to have adverse implications for the region. As shown by ground measurements and/or satellite analyses, the decrease in nitrogen oxides (NO 2 ) and NO x in Hong Kong is not statistically significant while NO 2 of the PRD has only very slightly changed. However, carbon dioxide has remarkably declined in the whole region. While these observations concerning precursors do not seem to adequately support an increasing ozone trend, measured surface levels of formaldehyde, a proxy for volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, have risen significantly in the PRD (2004Á2010). Hence, the reactive VOCs in the PRD are likely to be the main culprit for the increase of ozone, as far as precursors are concerned. Despite the prevailing problem, model simulations suggest prospects for improvement in the future.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Increase of ozone concentrations, its temperature sensitivity and the precursor factor in South China

Lee

Shindell

Faluvegi

et al. 2014

Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology

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“…57.7%. This study assumes that the contribution to warming by the background factors calculated in Chan et al (2012) is also applicable during 1968−2013, and this assumption is reasonable given that the time periods between the studies are similar. Thus, during 1968−2013, background factors contributed approximately 0.47°C multiplied by 57.7%, or 0.27°C, to warming in Hong Kong.…”

Section: Average Air Temperature (T a )mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chan et al (2012) used Reanalysis 1 data from the US National Centers for Environment Prediction-National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP-NCAR), and meteorological observations and sounding data from HKO stations, leading to estimates that urbanization contributed roughly 42.3% of warming in Hong Kong during 1971−2010. Therefore, using this conclusion, the contribution of 'background factors' other than urbanization (i.e.…”

Section: Average Air Temperature (T a )mentioning

confidence: 99%

Rapid urbanization effect on local climate: intercomparison of climate trends in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, 1968-2013

Li¹,

Chan²,

Wang³

et al. 2015

Clim. Res.

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An intercomparison of climate trends between 2 adjacent large cities, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, in the past 46 yr (1968−2013) suggests that the rate of urbanization is clearly reflected in the rate of the change in local climate. Since becoming a special economic zone in 1980, Shenzhen has experienced a very rapid urbanization process. In only 30 yr, Shenzhen has transformed from a small town into a metropolis rivaling Hong Kong. The gross domestic product and urban built-up area in Shenzhen have increased rapidly. Climate data analysis over the last 46 yr showed a greater rate of change in climate in Shenzhen than in Hong Kong over the same period. In Shenzhen, average annual temperature warmed by 1.63 ± 0.18°C (~0.35 ± 0.04°C per decade), average maximum temperature increased by 0.90 ± 0.19°C, average minimum temperature increased by 2.09 ± 0.23°C and the diurnal temperature range (DTR) decreased by 1.18 ± 0.23°C. Over the same period in Hong Kong, average temperature increased by 0.47 ± 0.20°C (~0.10 ± 0.04°C per decade), maximum temperature increased by 0.12 ± 0.28°C, minimum temperature increased by 0.55 ± 0.20°C and DTR decreased by 0.43 ± 0.27°C. In addition, relative humidity in Shenzhen decreased by 13.13 ± 1.78% in the last 46 yr, while there were no significant changes in Hong Kong. Finally, data analysis showed that urbanization has no significant effect on total rainfall for both cities.

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“…To inform the public and stakeholders of possible climate change impacts and support future planning, a number of studies have been conducted to examine the past changes and project the future trend in local and regional climate and related extreme weather events due to global climate change and local urbanization (e.g. Ginn et al 2010;Chan et al 2012;Lee et al , 2012aHe et al 2016). In particular, climate projection of temperature, wet-bulb temperature, rainfall, and mean sea level in Hong Kong are computed based on IPCC climate model data.…”

Section: (D) Climate Change and Climate Predictionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As El Niño and La Niña conditions could have effect on the monthly and seasonal climate of Hong Kong against the ENSO-neutral situation from a statistical perspective (Lee and Cheng 2011), the latest status and forecast of the warming and cooling of surface waters over the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean are also closely monitored and reported in the HKO website for public reference. Long-term variations of various meteorological elements and indices, such as temperature, rainfall, sea level, tropical cyclone frequency, and extreme weather events, are also conducted to assess the climate change in Hong Kong due to global warming and local urbanizations (Lee et al 2010b;Wong et al 2011;Chan et al 2012). …”

Section: (H) Climate Monitoringmentioning

confidence: 99%

Urban-focused weather and climate services in Hong Kong

2018

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Under the relentless pace of population growth and urban development, weather and climate services provided by the Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) since its establishment in 1883 have been evolving continuously with an increasing focus on the delivery of tailored information to meet the needs of special users and various stakeholders in the community. With meteorological observations at the headquarters of the Observatory dating back more than 130 years to 1884, the advent of automatic weather station network in the mid-1980s has significantly expanded the data coverage both in terms of spatial and temporal resolution. The establishment of the Community Weather Information Network in 2007 further extended the meteorological measurement to the school and community levels. Regular upper air soundings and the increasing availability of remote-sensing observations also enable the monitoring of meteorological parameters beyond the near-surface levels through the depth of the atmosphere. By integrating comprehensive weather observations and numerical weather prediction products, HKO now provides a wide range of forecasts covering multi-time scales and warnings and advisories for high-impact weather such as tropical cyclone, thunderstorm, heavy rain, landslide, flooding, and cold and very hot weather. Riding on the advances in communication technology in recent decades, members of the public have gained improved access to the latest weather warnings, advisories, weather information, and forecast for the next couple of hours to 9 days ahead, as well as forecasts near users' locations through HKO's website and mobile app. In addition to information for public consumption, HKO's services and products have been tailored in support of weather-sensitive operations such as those provided to users in the aviation and marine communities. In the process of such diversified development, HKO has successfully cultivated close partnerships with various stakeholders to enhance its weather and climate services by embracing the spirit of the Big Data and smart city concept in recent years, in particular in areas related to energy, water, health, and disaster risk reduction. In this paper, a review of the weather and climate services focusing on the urban aspects in Hong Kong will be presented, with examples illustrating specific applications in different sectors. Future thrusts in enhancing and integrating the urban weather and climate services for Hong Kong in the Big Data era under the Climate Friendly Demonstration City initiative and impact-based forecast approach promulgated by the World Meteorological Organization will also be discussed.

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Temperature trends in Hong Kong from a seasonal perspective

Cited by 43 publications

References 45 publications

Increase of ozone concentrations, its temperature sensitivity and the precursor factor in South China

Increase of ozone concentrations, its temperature sensitivity and the precursor factor in South China

Rapid urbanization effect on local climate: intercomparison of climate trends in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, 1968-2013

Urban-focused weather and climate services in Hong Kong

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