Solar & Daylight Data
Sun Path: Kowloon, Hong Kong
How to research sun path for a specific site in Kowloon — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.
Last updated August 31, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames HK dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/HK.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 1819609). Regulatory starting point: [Hong Kong Buildings Department](https://www.bd.gov.hk/en/resources/codes-and-references/codes-and-design-manuals/index.html). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: [NOAA Solar Calculation Details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html); the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained.
Direct answer
For Kowloon at 22.3167, 114.1833, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 88.9° at the June solstice, 67.7° at an equinox and 44.2° at the December solstice. Refine these geometry checks with the project date, civil time, facade azimuth, terrain and local horizon. The reproducible location record is GeoNames ID 1819609 in administrative area 00, at 22.3167, 114.1833; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 88.9° at the June solstice, 67.7° at an equinox and 44.2° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 10.6 hours in December to 13.4 hours in June; this excludes atmospheric refraction, terrain and obstruction effects. The cited national authority is a discovery starting point; current local documents and a named qualified reviewer control project use of this sun path record.
Prepared by Harth · Prepared from the cited location and country sources; local project inputs remain unreviewed · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-08-31.
What must be verified for Kowloon?
Kowloon is represented here at approximately 22.3167, 114.1833 for discovery and workflow planning. A project address, parcel, elevation, exposure, authority, and submission date must replace that city-centre reference before design use.
How should sun path be established?
- Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
- Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
- Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
- Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
- Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
| Input | Project-specific evidence | QA question |
|---|---|---|
| Site | surveyed coordinates, elevation and horizon | Does the point represent the building? |
| Weather/solar method | named dataset, algorithm, period and time basis | Are station, time zone and units explicit? |
| Design scenario | current and future scenario agreed by the team | Is an average being mistaken for an extreme? |
| Compliance | adopted local document and edition | Was applicability confirmed with the authority? |
What are the limits of this worksheet?
This sun-path-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Kowloon site remain authoritative.
Kowloon monthly solar geometry check for sun path
| Representative date | Declination | Solar-noon altitude | Geometric daylight | Noon shadow / height |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January | -20.14° | 47.55° | 10.846 h | 0.915 |
| 21 February | -11.23° | 56.46° | 11.377 h | 0.663 |
| 21 March | -0.40° | 67.28° | 11.978 h | 0.419 |
| 21 April | +11.58° | 79.26° | 12.643 h | 0.190 |
| 21 May | +20.14° | 87.82° | 13.154 h | 0.038 |
| 21 June | +23.45° | 88.87° | 13.367 h | 0.020 |
| 21 July | +20.44° | 88.12° | 13.173 h | 0.033 |
| 21 August | +11.75° | 79.44° | 12.653 h | 0.186 |
| 21 September | -0.20° | 67.48° | 11.989 h | 0.415 |
| 21 October | -11.75° | 55.93° | 11.347 h | 0.676 |
| 21 November | -20.44° | 47.24° | 10.827 h | 0.925 |
| 21 December | -23.45° | 44.23° | 10.633 h | 1.027 |
Kowloon solar-geometry fingerprint at 22.3167, 114.1833
- Kowloon, 21 January: declination -20.14°, noon altitude 47.55°, zenith 42.45°, geometric daylight 10.846 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.915.
- Kowloon, 21 February: declination -11.23°, noon altitude 56.46°, zenith 33.54°, geometric daylight 11.377 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.663.
- Kowloon, 21 March: declination -0.40°, noon altitude 67.28°, zenith 22.72°, geometric daylight 11.978 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.419.
- Kowloon, 21 April: declination +11.58°, noon altitude 79.26°, zenith 10.74°, geometric daylight 12.643 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.190.
- Kowloon, 21 May: declination +20.14°, noon altitude 87.82°, zenith 2.18°, geometric daylight 13.154 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.038.
- Kowloon, 21 June: declination +23.45°, noon altitude 88.87°, zenith 1.13°, geometric daylight 13.367 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.020.
- Kowloon, 21 July: declination +20.44°, noon altitude 88.12°, zenith 1.88°, geometric daylight 13.173 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.033.
- Kowloon, 21 August: declination +11.75°, noon altitude 79.44°, zenith 10.56°, geometric daylight 12.653 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.186.
- Kowloon, 21 September: declination -0.20°, noon altitude 67.48°, zenith 22.52°, geometric daylight 11.989 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.415.
- Kowloon, 21 October: declination -11.75°, noon altitude 55.93°, zenith 34.07°, geometric daylight 11.347 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.676.
- Kowloon, 21 November: declination -20.44°, noon altitude 47.24°, zenith 42.76°, geometric daylight 10.827 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.925.
- Kowloon, 21 December: declination -23.45°, noon altitude 44.23°, zenith 45.77°, geometric daylight 10.633 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.027.
Harth computed the Kowloon fingerprint for latitude 22.3167° with the Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and 1 / tan(altitude) shadow ratio. Longitude 114.1833° is retained for a later civil-time conversion; this screen does not perform that conversion. See NOAA's solar calculation details. Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all solar data guidance
- Sun Path: Kowloon West End, Hong Kong
- Sun Path: Mong Kok, Hong Kong
- Sun Path: Whampoa, Hong Kong
- Sun Path: Kowloon City Centre, Hong Kong
- All solar & daylight data guidance for Hong Kong
Sources and method
Location data from the GeoNames HK dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 1819609). Regulatory starting point: Hong Kong Buildings Department. Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: NOAA Solar Calculation Details; the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What does the sun path record for Kowloon establish?
The sun path record for Kowloon establishes a reproducible discovery point at 22.3167, 114.1833 (GeoNames ID 1819609, administrative area 00) and a Hong Kong source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.
What must be replaced before using this sun path workflow for a project in Kowloon?
For the sun path record in Kowloon, replace the 22.3167, 114.1833 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under Buildings Ordinance, subsidiary regulations, codes of practice, and practice notes. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.
Related pages
- Sun Path: Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
Sun path for Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: solar-noon altitude 72.5° June, 84.0° equinox, 60.6° December; 11.7–12.3 h daylight; 12-month geometry table.
- Sun Path: Kota Kuala Muda, Malaysia
Sun path for Kota Kuala Muda, Malaysia: solar-noon altitude 72.2° June, 84.4° equinox, 61.0° December; 11.7–12.3 h daylight; 12-month geometry table.
- Sun Path: Kowloon City Centre, Hong Kong
Sun path for Kowloon City Centre, Hong Kong: solar-noon altitude 88.9° June, 67.7° equinox, 44.2° December; 10.6–13.4 h daylight; 12-month geometry table.
- Sun Path: Kowloon West End, Hong Kong
Sun path for Kowloon West End, Hong Kong: solar-noon altitude 88.9° June, 67.7° equinox, 44.2° December; 10.6–13.4 h daylight; 12-month geometry table.
- Sun Path: Krugersdorp, South Africa
Sun path for Krugersdorp, South Africa: solar-noon altitude 40.5° June, 63.9° equinox, 87.4° December; 10.4–13.6 h daylight; 12-month geometry table.
- Sun Path: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Sun path for Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: solar-noon altitude 69.7° June, 86.9° equinox, 63.4° December; 11.8–12.2 h daylight; 12-month geometry table.