Newsletter Issue 50 (December 2024)




The Weather of November 2024 – A wet November with three tropical cyclone episodes


November 2024 was characterised by the successive strikes of tropical cyclones Yinxing, Toraji and Man-yi at the end of the typhoon season of Hong Kong, necessitating the issuance of tropical cyclone warning signals for these three episodes, the first time in November since 1946. With stronger than normal cyclonic flow in the lower atmosphere over the coast of southern China, the month was cloudier and wetter than usual.



Popular Science Talk Series For Teens – The Power of Aerosols: How They Shape Clouds and Climate


Date & Time: 2024/12/21 (Saturday) & 3:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Venue: Hong Kong Central Library (Lecture Theatre, G/F)
Speaker: Ms. MAK Ho-yi, Lydia (PhD Candidate, Division of Environment and Sustainability, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
Organiser: Jointly organised by the Hong Kong Meteorological Society
Remarks: Conducted in Cantonese. Free admission by reservation.



La Niña may develop, but it is likely to be weak and short-lived


La Niña conditions may develop in the next three months but are expected to be relatively weak and short-lived, according to the latest Update from the WMO. Latest forecasts from WMO Global Producing Centres of Long-Range Forecasts indicate a 55% likelihood of a transition from the current neutral conditions to La Nina conditions during Dec 2024 to Feb 2025. The return of the ENSO-neutral conditions is then favored during Feb-Apr 2025, with about 55% chance.



2024 on track to be the first year to exceed 1.5ºC above the pre-industrial average


With Copernicus data in from the penultimate month of the year, we can now confirm with virtual certainty that 2024 will be the warmest year on record and the first calendar year above 1.5°C. The month was 1.62ºC above the pre-industrial average for November, being the 16th month of the last 17 months with a global average surface air temperatures above 1.5ºC above the pre-industrial levels.



Impact studies should include high-sensitivity climate models


High-sensitivity climate models should not be excluded when projecting future regional climate impacts because the level of warming measured globally is not always the only good indicator of regional changes, a new study suggests. New research published in Earth’s Future shows no clear correlation between the rate of warming and some important regional drivers. Instead, how the behaviour of regional weather patterns control impacts needs to be considered too.



Europe’s most advanced weather satellite is now fully operational


The first of EUMETSAT’s Meteosat Third Generation (MTG) satellites became fully operational on 4 December 2024. MTG-Imager 1 also receives a new name – Meteosat-12 – to mark the occasion. The two main instruments on board Meteosat-12, the Flexible Combined Imager and the Lightning Imager, play a crucial role in enabling meteorological services to help protect lives and livelihoods by providing high-resolution, accurate data for predicting severe weather events.



The world has been warming faster than expected. Scientists now think they know why


Scientists know the extraordinary heat was fueled by a number of factors, predominantly planet-heating pollution from burning fossil fuels and the natural climate pattern El Niño. But those alone did not explain the unusually rapid temperature rise. Now a new study published Thursday in the journal Science says it has identified the missing part of the puzzle: clouds.



Innovation, insight and impact: groundbreaking research through the 2024 hurricane season


November 30th marks the official end of the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. Throughout this active season, NOAA scientists set new records in tropical cyclone research that will improve forecasting accuracy, enhance our understanding of storm behavior, and strengthen preparedness efforts for communities in hurricane-prone regions. Their dedication and innovation contribute to a safer and more resilient future for those facing the impacts of extreme weather events.



NOAA’s GOES Satellites Can Provide Quicker Detection of Large Methane Emissions


Innovative use of NOAA’s geostationary satellites (GOES) has given scientists a new way to detect large methane emissions faster and more accurately. Results of a new experiment show the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), the highly advanced camera flying on the GOES-16, GOES-18 and the newly launched GOES-19 satellites, is able to pinpoint leaks or venting of methane—a potent greenhouse gas—as often as every seven seconds.



China’s Zhongshan National Atmospheric Background Station established in Antarctica to support global response to climate change


This year marks the 40th anniversary of China’s polar expedition. On the occasion of World Antarctica Day, on December 1, 2024, China’s Zhongshan National Atmospheric Background Station in Antarctica is in official operation. The Station is China’s first atmospheric background station established on the Antarctic continent and the ninth one to be in official operation.



Membership renewal is now more convenient


Payment through Faster Payment System (FPS) is now available (Our FPS ID: 166920512). Support your society, don’t forget to renew your membership!


通訊錄的文章只以文章原本的語言表達。
The news in the Newsletter will be presented in the originating language only.