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Severe Typhoon Koinu passed south of Hong Kong on 8 and 9 October 2023, triggering the issuance of the Increasing Gale or Storm Signal No. 9, the second highest tropical cyclone (TC) warning signal in Hong Kong. Koinu was a difficult case for TC warning service due to its compact size and rather erratic movement over the coastal waters of Guangdong. To monitor Koinu's movement and wind structure, the Hong Kong Observatory utilized various observational platforms, including meteorological aircraft, ocean radar, and synthetic aperture radar on polar orbiting satellites. The paper presents major observations derived from these measurements. The aircraft probe and dropsonde data suggested boundary layer inflow, warm core structure, eyewall updraft, and high turbulence in the eyewall of the typhoon. The weather radar observations indicated the occurrence of a waterspout in the vicinity of the typhoon. Additionally, the study highlights the forecasting performance of the AI‐based Pangu‐Weather model, which could outperform the conventional global numerical weather prediction models in forecasting TC track in the region. The documentation of these observations aims to provide valuable references for weather forecasters and stimulate further research on forecasting this type of tropical cyclone. Key Points: Observations from meteorological aircraft, ocean radar, and synthetic aperture radar show the structure of Severe Typhoon KoinuWeather radar observations suggest the occurrence of a waterspout in the vicinity of KoinuAI‐based Pangu‐Weather model could outperform the conventional global numerical weather prediction models in forecasting Koinu's track [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diagnosis of eutrophication requires evidence of disturbance to the balance of organisms. We describe a tool, the Plankton Community Integrity Index (PCII), derived from the Plankton Index (PI) for tracking change in the seasonal patterns of abundance of diatom and dinoflagellate lifeforms when plotted in state space. The tool uses a nutrient-minimum reference period to interpret PCII values as status indicators, with values close to 1 indicating "High" status and 0.6 a Biological Water Quality Criterion (BioWQC) target set at the "Fair"/"Good" status boundary. It has been applied to Hong Kong marine waters, using data from monthly samples from 1995 through 2021. A preliminary analysis, required for the PI method, confirmed monsoonal seasonality in the diatom lifeform. In 5 of the 9 water bodies examined, PCII time series correlated with those of Total Inorganic Nitrogen (TIN). Since 2020, all Water Control Zones met the operationally defined BioWQC target. [Display omitted] • A Phytoplankton Index is proposed to assess quality of Hong Kong marine waters. • Monsoonal seasonality in the diatom lifeform is confirmed. • The proposed index correlated with Total Inorganic Nitrogen in most water bodies. • All local marine waters meet Biological Water Quality Criterion target since 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Modeling MCDM requires the simultaneous consideration of multiple criteria but traditional statistical techniques can only evaluate these factors independently. As such, it is vital for managers to have a clear picture of customers'' preferences in order to design more focused marketing strategies; whereas the existing body of work is unable to meet such a requirement. To tackle these challenges, we introduce a new technique based on deploying an aggregation function, the Choquet Integral (CI), in the tourism context. Focusing on a case study of the Hong Kong hotel industry, we demonstrate how this technique can be used to discover the preferences among travelers that affect their hotel selections. A set of criteria based on these preference profiles is then constructed. The findings are expected to benefit tourism managers worldwide. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

High levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) have been extensively reported in urban areas and at e-waste recycling sites in coastal China. However, data are scarce in northern China and are not available in rural areas at all. In addition, it is often believed that air concentrations in rural areas are lower than those in urban areas without distinguishing rural residential areas and open fields. In this study, air samples were collected at 17 sites covering urban and rural (residential and open field) areas in northern China using active samplers. With BDE-209 dominated in all congeners, the average concentrations of BDE-209 (41 ± 72 pg/m3) and other 13 PBDEs (16 ± 12 pg/m3) were significantly lower than those found in south China, such as in Guangzhou or Hong Kong. On average, the total PBDE concentrations at the urban sites were 2.2 and 2.9 times of those at the rural residential and field sites, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: With the widespread use of Internet technology, electronic word-of-mouth [eWOM] communication through online reviews of products and services has a strong influence on consumer behavior and preferences. Although prior research efforts have attempted to investigate the behavior of users regarding the sharing of personal experiences and browsing the experiences of others online, it remains a challenge for business managers to incorporate eWOM effects into their business planning and decision-making processes effectively. Applying a newly proposed association rule mining technique, this study investigates eWOM in the context of the tourism industry using an outbound domestic tourism data set that was recently collected in Hong Kong. The complete profiles and the relations of online experience sharers and travel website browsers are explored. The empirical results are useful in helping tourism managers to define new target customers and to plan more effective marketing strategies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Despite the numerous research endeavors aimed at investigating tourists’ preferences and motivations, it remains very difficult for practitioners to utilize the results of traditional association rule mining methods in tourism management. This research presents a new approach that extends the capability of the association rules technique to contrast targeted association rules with the aim of capturing the changes and trends in outbound tourism. Using datasets collected from five large-scale domestic tourism surveys of Hong Kong residents on outbound pleasure travel, both positive and negative contrasts are identified, thus enabling practitioners and policymakers to make appropriate decisions and develop more appropriate tourism products. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The construction of world-class Bay makes the marine ecology in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Great Bay Area in risk. Based on the DPSIR index framework, Lotka-Volterra symbiosis model is applied to calculate symbiosis degree between coastal socio-economic system and marine ecosystem in 9 coastal cities. It is found that the marine ecological pressure in this area have not been reversed in recent 20 years. Most cities are in the stage that socio-economic development and marine ecological damage coexist. In Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Dongguan and Zhongshan, the damaged marine ecology has begun to restrain the further expansion of economy and society. The massive population agglomeration in Hong Kong, Macao and other places has caused serious marine ecological stress. It is urgent to improve the marine ecological security by cultivating ecological industrial system and industrial clusters, establishing a land-sea ecological restoration, promoting joint-protection and co-governance across different administrative regions. [Display omitted] • Relationship between coastal socio-economic system and marine ecosystem was revealed. • The marine ecological security was evaluated by Lotka-Volterra symbiosis model. • DPSIR system was constructed with marine ecological, economic, and social indicators. • Suggestions for improving marine ecology in the Greater Bay Area were proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laboratory experiments were carried out to investigate the adsorption behaviour of dibutyl phthalate (DBP) on marine sediments collected from five different sites in Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong. DBP adsorption can be well described by the Langmuir isotherm. The maximum DBP adsorption capacity (Q max) of the marine sediments ranges from 53 to 79mgg−1, which has a positive correlation with their organic content. Around 90% of the organic can be removed from the sediments with treatment by H2O2 oxidation, and the Q max then decreases to a range between 13 and 22mgg−1. The black carbon content of the sediments has a much greater DBP adsorption capacity than does the natural organic matter of the sediments. The amount of DBP adsorbed on the sediments increases as the salinity of the marine water increases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Three information sharing mechanisms underlying connective action are identified. • Network analysis, modularity analysis and topic modeling were used. • The retweeting network is more centralized in information generation. • The retweeting network however is less centralized in information dissemination. • Issue alignment was identified within and across subcommunities in the network. This study applies the connective action framework and network analysis to analyze how counterpublics used social media to form cliques and mobilize support toward a local issue at the global stage. It presents a case study of the 2019 Hong Kong protest to uncover under what conditions hashtag activism can evolve into connective action. The network approach allows us to examine users and content simultaneously to identify three mechanisms underlying the movement: generative role-taking, hashtag based storytelling, and issue alignment through diverse social groups. Combining descriptive network analysis, modularity analysis, and topic modeling, we demonstrated that hashtag activists during the Hong Kong 2019 protests used different strategies of connective action to engage in information sharing and drive the emergence of connective action. (122 words) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]