View Full Version : Southern Haze from Indo
Not as bad as 1997, when it seemed like we were esconced in a hill fog for days on end. But still bad. Worse than anything normal traffic pollution throws at us; and of course its helping to trap the smog. Saturday's rain damped it down a bit, but the smoke was still visible today; even after dark. There is a definite woodsmoke nose about it.
I can't really account for some maps that show that the haze is no longer in this area; although I suppose we may be in a residual pocket trapped by topography and weather patterns. And I suppose the overcast conditions are making the remaining smoke more obvious. One trouble is, I doubt whether any photo would fully convey to you just how bad the pollution is.
The more demos the better! If that's what it takes for the Indos to expose the role of Malaysian Loggers, then so be it. They're well-known for exporting their exploitative habits around the globe. Perhaps both the local Indo & Malay consulates need to feel some heat too!
Haze Sites:-
http://www.vadscorner.com/haze.html http://www.rand.org/publications/RB/RB5066/
http://www.crisp.nus.edu.sg/forest_fire/fire.html
:mad:
Monday 15th August, 10AM. TV Transmission Masts on Khor Hong Mountain almost obscured by the Indonesian & Malaysian Haze from a semi-rural location only 1 kilometer distant. There's always some kind of traffic-related smog (a lot of it from 2-strokes) early in the morning in Hat-Yai, but the sun usually appears to have burnt it off by 10AM:-
http://tinypic.com/akh5eg.jpg
There has been only a very gradual improvement from the worst on Saturday morning, when the city felt like it had been beamed up to a highland location with swirling (non-romantic) mists.
airlana
17-08-05, 11:49 AM
Aussies to the rescue
from today's news downunder
--------------------------------------------
Aussie team heads to Sumatra haze
From: AAP
August 17, 2005
A TEAM of Australian experts has left for Indonesia to provide emergency assistance that will help tackle serious forest fires in Sumatra.
The widespread fires have produced severe pollution across Sumatra and peninsular Malaysia, prompting Malaysia last Thursday to declare a state of emergency.
AusAID humanitarian co-ordinator Alan March said the Australian team of eight technical fire experts would support Indonesian authorities in the planning and management of their response to the disaster.
They will also help determine what further assistance Australia might be able to provide.
"Their brief is to asses the fire situation and the experts, from Queensland, will make recommendations to both the Australian government and Indonesian authorities," Mr March said at Sydney Airport ahead of the team's departure.
Funded through AusAID's humanitarian and emergency budget, the emergency team will be joined by representatives from the Australian Defence Force and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
Hundreds of Indonesian soldiers are already on the island to support exhausted fire brigades who have been using buckets and hoses to extinguish the raging flames.
"The fires are still burning. We have access to a range of maps showing it burning in a range of centres around Sumatra," Mr March said.
"The smoke pollution is a symptom of the fires and it's causing local populations distress and discomfort."
The team would be deployed there for a week, he said, during which they would be in regular contact with authorities in Australia.
The fires – set by plantation owners, logging companies and poor farmers – are illegal.
----------------------------------------------------------
It has definitely reached Songkhla Province today:
Health-hazard haze returns to southern Thailand
SATUN, July 6 (TNA) – Thailand's Pollution Control Department has dispatched a mobile air quality monitoring unit to the southernmost province of Satun, because it is necessary to monitor its air quality closely after the skies there have been clogged with smog from forest fires in Indonesia for a third consecutive day.
The East Coast Unit of the Southern Meteorological Centre Friday reported that the smog has reached some parts of nearby province of Songkhla. Satellite images show that wildfires had broken out on many parts of Indonesia’s Sumatra.
Thailand’s hardest hit area is in Satun where the visibility is less than one kilometre. Many residents have started to develop some respiratory problems. A medical doctor in Satun revealed that the number of patients seeking treatment for respiratory problems at his private clinic this week jumped from about 20-30 persons to an average of some 50 patients every day.
The latest report from the mobile unit showed that the dust level in Satun was 71 microgrammes (mg) per cubic metre. Should it exceed the standard of 120 mg per cubic metre, the air quality is deemed hazardous. (TNA)-E002
http://etna.mcot.net/query.php?nid=30351
It's not that obvious here this morning. Rain and breeze seems to have laid some of it to rest overnight Friday:
Haze blankets Southern province
By News Desk
The Nation
Publication Date: 08-07-2007
Sea transportation off Songkhla was put on alert as haze from forest fires in Indonesia blanketed the southern province yesterday.
The East Coast Unit of the Southern Meteorological Centre warned all craft in the province to proceed with caution due to the poor visibility.
Songkhla is the second province in Thailand after Satun to be hit by the smoke wafting in from Sumatra, Indonesia.
The Pollution Control Department on Friday (July 6) dispatched a mobile air-quality monitoring unit to Satun after the skies there turned smoggy for the third straight day. Visibility was reduced to less than one kilometre.
A doctor said patients seeking treatment for respiratory problems at his Satun clinic had risen from about 20-30 a day on average to about 50 a day this past week.
The latest report from the mobile unit showed that the dust level in Satun was 71 micrograms per cubic metre. Should it exceed the standard of 120mg, the air quality will be declared hazardous.
http://www.asianewsnet.net/news.php?aid=10854
My contacts in Hat-Yai took a look out the window and concluded it had already arrived there without similar visibilty scores. Also the woodsmoke smell in the air, rather than the more usual fishmeal factory and rubber factory pong:
July 31, 2008 15:38 PM
Penang Overcome By Haze Due To Open Burning In Indonesia
PENANG, July 31 (Bernama) -- Penang was overcome by haze Thursday, with three areas experiencing poor visibility for between two and six kilometres.
The haze is believed to have originated from open burning in Sumatra, Indonesia.
According to a spokesman of the Penang Meteorological Department, the situation was worsened with suspended materials in the atmosphere.
"We believe the haze is caused by open burning in Sumatra as satellite images have indicated 150 hot spots there.
"Due to the dry weather, the haze is expected to last for several days in the northern part of the peninsula.
"Nevertheless, the situation is not alarming as it will change for the better when there are strong winds and heavy downpour," he told Bernama.
As at 11am, the Air Pollutant Index (API) in Seberang Jaya is 79, while the visibility distance is two kilometres.
In Prai, the API is 53 while the visibility is six kilometres while at Universiti Sains Malaysia, it is 53, with visibity at five kilometres.
The API for unhealthy level is more than 100.
-- BERNAMA
Non-specific link:
http://www.bernama.com.my/
Songkhla hit by haze from Indonesia
Songkhla - Haze caused by forest fires in Indonesia hit this southern province Friday morning, causing poor visibility.
The southern meteorological office said the southwest monsoon blew the haze from Indonesia.
The office warned motorists and fishing boat to exercise caution because of the poor visibility.
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/read.php?newsid=30079548
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2008/08/06/p1news/images/30079904-01.jpg
[Photo: The Nation - Haze from fires in Indonesia blankets Hat Yai district of Songkhla province on Wednesday. (August 8) //Thoranit Piroonla-ong]
Southern provinces affected by smog from Indonesia
Many areas in the Southern provinces of Satun, Trang, and Songkhla are affected by smog caused by forest fires in Indonesia’s Sumatra Island. The smog limits visibility to 200 to 300 meters.
Mobile air condition inspection units from the Department of Pollution Control are measuring dust particle levels in the air at the City Hall area in Satun province to determine whether dust levels exceeds the standard safety threshold of 120 micrograms. The result will be obtained within 24 hours.
Public health official Md.Samruam Danprachankul (สำรวม ด่านประชันกุล) warns people with allergies to avoid smog as they may be particularly sensitive to changing weather conditions. People with allergic conditions are advised to wear a fabric face mask, and to stop exercising outdoors during this period.
News Date : 02 August 2008
Reporter : RTI-Reporter05
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255108020011
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