December 13, 2018
1.1 Apart from the occasional increases in some parts of the Mekong sub-region (Figure 1), hotspot activities in the ASEAN region remained generally subdued.
Figures 1: NOAA-19 satellite image on 24 Nov 2018 shows isolated hotspots detected in parts of central Thailand. Typhoon Usagi was also observed in South China Sea, to the east of southern Viet Nam.
November 23, 2018
1.1 Dry conditions gave rise to isolated hotspot activities in parts of the Mekong sub-region (Figure 1) but the hotspots were generally short-lived. In the southern ASEAN region, hotspot activities were generally subdued due to the rainy weather.
Figures 1: Isolated hotspots detected in Cambodia and Viet Nam in early November
October 23, 2018
1.1 During the first half of October 2018, hotspot activities in the northern ASEAN region were subdued. While there were hotspots with smoke haze observed in the southern parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan in early October, the hotspot activities were generally subdued due to an increase in rain showers with the transition to inter-monsoon conditions and the southward migration of monsoon rainband.
1.2 Figures 1 and 2 show the satellite images over the ASEAN region in the first fortnight of October 2018.
Figure 1: Himawari-8 satellite image on 3 Oct 2018 shows smoke haze from hotspots in southern Sumatra.
Figure 2: Moderate smoke haze over Kalimantan as shown in the Himawari-8 satellite image on 2 Oct 2018.
October 18, 2018
1.1 Hotspot activities were subdued in the northern ASEAN region due to rainy weather.
1.2 In the southern ASEAN region, rainy weather helped to subdue hotspot activities in the first half of the fortnight. In the second half of the fortnight, drier weather led to increased hotspot activities in the central and southern parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. The haze situation in Kalimantan was more severe as compared to that in Sumatra. There were scattered hotspots with large extent of moderate smoke haze observed in Central and South Kalimantan which persisted until the end of September.
1.3 Figures below show the satellite images over the ASEAN region in the second fortnight of September 2018.
Figure 1: Himawari-8 satellite image on 18 Sep 2018 shows hotspot activities subdued by shower activities.
Figure 2: Himawari-8 satellite image on 27 Sep 2018 shows moderate smoke haze observed in central Sumatra during brief period of dry weather.
Figure 3: NOAA-19 satellite image on 28 Sep 2018 shows hotspots and smoke haze detected in several parts of Kalimantan as dry weather persisted.
Figure 4: Himawari-8 satellite image on 28 Sep 2018 shows hotspot activities subdued by scattered showers in the northern ASEAN region.
September 25, 2018
1.1 Rainy weather in the northern ASEAN region helped to keep hotspot activities in the region subdued.
1.2 In the southern ASEAN region, dry air from the southern hemisphere affected the region on some days in the first fortnight of September 2018. In the first week of the fortnight, isolated hotspots with localised smoke plumes were detected mainly in West Kalimantan. In the latter half of the fortnight, the drier weather led to an increase in hotspot activities on some days in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Hotspots with smoke plumes and haze were observed mostly in southern Sumatra and southern and central Kalimantan.
1.3 Figures below show the satellite images over the ASEAN region in the first fortnight of September 2018.
Figure 1: Aqua satellite image on 2 Sep 2018 shows localised smoke plumes in Central Kalimantan.
Figure 2: NOAA-19 satellite image on 11 Sep 2018 shows smoke plumes from clusters of hotspots in South Kalimantan.
Figure 3: Himawari-8 satellite image on 14 Sep 2018 shows an isolated smoke plumes from hotspots in South Sumatra.
Figure 4: Himawari-8 satellite image on 15 Sep 2018 shows smoke plumes in the provinces of South Sumatra and Lampung.
September 12, 2018
1.1 Hotspot activities remained subdued in the northern ASEAN region due to rainy weather.
1.2 In the southern ASEAN region, there were significant hotspot activities observed in Riau, Sumatra and West Kalimantan during the third week of August 2018. On 16 August 2018, visible smoke haze from fire hotspots in Riau, central Sumatra spread across the Strait of Malacca, and brought hazy conditions to parts of Peninsular Malaysia. The return of shower activities over the following days helped to improve the haze situation in Riau Province.
1.3 The hotspot activities in Kalimantan persisted for a longer period than that in Riau, central Sumatra due to an extended period of dry weather conditions over the southern half of Borneo island. Hotspots with moderate to dense smoke haze were detected in West, Central and South Kalimantan. Smoke haze from the persistent hotspots in West Kalimantan reduced visibility in Pontianak, West Kalimantan to 2 km, and was blown by the prevailing winds to affect parts of western Sarawak. In the last week of August 2018, increased shower activities over Kalimantan helped to subdue the hotspot activities there and brought some relief to the haze situation in Kalimantan and Sarawak.
1.4 Figures below show the satellite images over the ASEAN region in the second fortnight of August 2018.
Figure 1: Himawari-8 satellite image on 16 Aug 2018 shows moderate smoke haze from Riau, Sumatra spread across the Strait of Malacca.
Figure 2: Himawari-8 satellite image on 18 Aug 2018 shows moderate to dense smoke haze from fire hotspots detected in several parts of Kalimantan.
Figure 3: Himawari-8 satellite image on 21 Aug 2018 shows the return of shower activities that helped to alleviate the haze situation in Sumatra and Peninsular Malaysia.
Figure 4: Himawari-8 satellite image on 22 Aug 2018 shows fire hotspots and smoke haze in Kalimantan.
Figure 5: Himawari-8 satellite image on 25 Aug 2018 shows widespread showers over Kalimantan which helped subdue hotspot activities there.
August 17, 2018
1.1 In the northern ASEAN region, no significant hotspot activities were observed.
1.2 In mid-July, drier weather in the southern ASEAN region contributed to an increase in hotspot activities, particularly in northern Riau and West Kalimantan. Smoke haze from hotspots in northern Riau was observed to spread northward across the Strait of Malacca towards Peninsular Malaysia. Several clusters of hotspots with smoke plumes were also observed in West Kalimantan and western Sarawak. These hotspots were short-lived and shower activities toward the end of July 2018 helped to subdue the hotspot activities there.
1.3 Figures below show satellite images over the ASEAN region in the second fortnight of July 2018.
Figure 1: Smoke plumes from hotspot in northern Riau (marked by red dotted lines) that were blown across the Strait of Malacca
Figure 2: Smoke plumes (marked by red dotted lines) observed around hotspot clusters detected in Kalimantan and Sarawak
July 25, 2018
1.1 During the review period, hotspot activities in the northern ASEAN region remained subdued due to the prevailing wet weather conditions.
1.2 In the southern ASEAN region, there were increased hotspot activities observed in Sarawak and West Kalimantan in the latter half of the fortnight, as dry weather conditions set in over the region. Smoke plumes were observed emanating from some of the hotspots.
1.3 Figures below show the satellite images over the ASEAN region in the first fortnight of July 2018.
Figure 1: Himawari-8 satellite image on 8 Jul 2018 shows hotspot activities in the northern ASEAN region subdued by wet weather conditions.
Figure 2: NOAA-19 satellite image on 14 Jul 2018 shows isolated hotspots and smoke plumes detected in Sarawak and West Kalimantan.
July 12, 2018
1.1 During the review period, there were isolated hotspots detected in the ASEAN region, but the overall hotspot activities were generally subdued due to the wet weather.
1.2 During the brief periods of drier weather, there were a few hotspots with thin smoke plumes observed on one or two days in central Sumatra. However, the smoke plumes were localised and short-lived.
1.3 Figures below show the satellite images over the ASEAN region in the second fortnight of June 2018.
Figure 1: Himawari-8 satellite image on 16 Jun 2018 shows a thin smoke plume over central Sumatra.
Figure 2: Himawari-8 satellite image on 29 Jun 2018 shows wet weather prevailed over most parts of the region.