Category Archives: Haze Review

Review of Land Fires and Smoke Haze Situation for Second Fortnight of September 2019

1.1 In the first half of the fortnight, persistent hotspots with moderate to dense smoke haze continued to be detected in Sumatra (mainly in the provinces of Jambi, South Sumatra and Lampung), and in Kalimantan (mostly in South, Central and West Kalimantan). Extensive smoke haze from these hotspots was also blown by the prevailing winds to affect parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and western Sarawak.

1.2 With increased showers over parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan in the last week of the month, there was a significant improvement in the hazy conditions in the southern ASEAN region. Smoke haze from hotspots continued be observed in the southern ASEAN region but was mainly detected in the southern parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan.

1.3 In the northern ASEAN region, hotspot activities remained generally subdued during the fortnight.

Figure 1 Smoke haze from hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan spread to neighbouring areas including parts of Peninsular Malaysia and western Sarawak.

Figure 2 Moderate to dense smoke haze from persistent hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan was blown by prevailing winds to affect parts of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and western Sarawak

Figure 3 Increased showers over equatorial region in the last week of September 2019 helped subdue the smoke haze situation; Smoke haze from hotspots was confined to the southern parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan

Figure 4 Distribution of hotspots detected based on NOAA-20 satellite surveillance and prevailing winds in the second half of September 2019 (Source of prevailing winds: JMA)

Review of Land Fires and Smoke Haze Situation for First Fortnight of September 2019

1.1 Under prevailing wet conditions, no significant hotspot activity was observed in the northern ASEAN region.

1.2 In the southern ASEAN region, prolonged dry weather in the first fortnight of September 2019 led to the significant increase in the hotspot activities, particularly over Sumatra and Kalimantan. Widespread moderate to dense smoke haze was observed to emanate from persistent hotspots detected in Sumatra and Kalimantan, and hazy conditions had shrouded many areas there during the fortnight period. Some of the smoke haze from Sumatra and Kalimantan had also been blown by the prevailing winds to affect Malaysia and Singapore.

Figure 1: Himawari-8 satellite image on 8 Sep 2019 shows smoke haze from hotspots detected in West, Central and South Kalimantan; some of the smoke haze had been blown toward the adjacent sea areas and western Sarawak.

Figure 2: Himawari-8 satellite image on 10 Sep 2019 shows smoke haze from hotspots detected in southern and central Sumatra; some of the smoke haze had been transported to affect Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.

Figure 3: Aqua satellite image on 11 Sep 2019 shows widespread moderate to dense smoke haze from hotspots detected in southern and central Sumatra.

Figure 4: Aqua satellite image on 14 Sep 2019 shows widespread moderate to dense smoke haze from hotspots detected in Kalimantan.

Figure 5: The distribution of hotspots detected from 1 September to 15 September 2019 in Sumatra, Kalimantan and Malaysia, based on NOAA-20 satellite surveillance. (Source of prevailing winds: JMA)

Review of Land Fires and Smoke Haze Situation for Second Fortnight of August 2019

1.1 During the second fortnight of August 2019, dry weather over Sumatra and Kalimantan was interspersed with occasional shower activities. In Sumatra, there were persistent clusters of hotspots detected in the central and southern parts of the island, particularly the provinces of Riau and Jambi. Moderate to dense smoke haze was observed to emanate from some of these hotspots.

1.2 In Kalimantan, significant smoke haze from persistent hotspot activities in Central Kalimantan resulted in widespread hazy conditions over the province. Hotspots with smoke haze were also detected in West, South and East Kalimantan. On a few days, some of the smoke haze from persistent hotspots in West Kalimantan was blown by the prevailing winds toward western Sarawak by the prevailing winds.

Figure 1: Hotspots with smoke haze detected in Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra based on NOAA-20 on 19 Aug 2019.

Figure 2: Moderate to dense smoke haze detected in Riau and Jambi, Sumatra based on image from Himawari-8 satellite on 18 August 2019.

Figure 3: Widespread moderate to dense smoke haze detected in Central Kalimantan. Hotspots with smoke haze were also observed in West and East Kalimantan. Image based on Himawari-8 satellite on 16 August 2019.

Review of Land Fires and Smoke Haze Situation for First Fortnight of August 2019

1.1 Under the prevailing dry conditions, significant hotspot activities persisted in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Moderate to dense smoke haze continued to emanate from persistent hotspot clusters detected in Riau and Jambi. Isolated hotspots with smoke plumes were also detected in South Sumatra. The prevailing southerly and southeasterly winds transported some smoke haze toward the Straits of Malacca.

1.2 In Kalimantan, hotspot activities with smoke haze continued to be detected in Central, West and South Kalimantan. In particular, moderate to dense smoke haze was observed from the persistent hotspot clusters in West Kalimantan, and smoke haze emanating from these hotspots was blown by the prevailing southeasterly winds into Sarawak. Moderate to dense smoke haze was also observed near Palangkaraya in Central Kalimantan.

1.3 Isolated hotspots with smoke plumes were also detected in Sarawak. For a few days, smoke plumes from hotspots in Miri, Sarawak were blown eastwards toward Brunei.

Figure 1: Himawari-8 satellite image showing moderate to dense smoke haze from hotspots detected in central and southern Sumatra.

Figure 2: Himawari-8 satellite image showing moderate to dense smoke haze from persistent hotspots near Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan. Smoke plumes were also observed in West and South Kalimantan. Smoke haze in West Kalimantan was blown into Sarawak by the prevailing winds. In Sarawak, smoke plumes from hotspots in Miri were blown eastwards toward Brunei.

Review of Land Fires and Smoke Haze Situation for Second Fortnight of July 2019

1.1 In the second half of July 2019, dry weather persisted in the southern ASEAN region. This contributed to a further escalation of hotspot activities. Persistent hotspot clusters with smoke plumes and haze were observed, particularly in central and southern Sumatra, and in Kalimantan. Some of the smoke haze from hotspots in West Kalimantan was observed to be blown by the prevailing winds toward Sarawak. Smoke haze from hotspots in Riau, central Sumatra were observed to be blown toward Peninsular Malaysia. In the northern ASEAN region, hotspot activities were generally subdued by the prevailing rainy weather.

Figure 1: Persistent hotspot clusters with smoke haze (yellow dotted lines) in Sumatra

Figure 2: Smoke haze (yellow dotted lines) from hotspots in parts of Kalimantan. Some haze from West Kalimantan blown toward Sarawak

Review of Land Fires and Smoke Haze Situation for First Fortnight of July 2019

1.1 Under prevailing rainy conditions, no significant hotspot activity was observed in the northern ASEAN region. In the southern ASEAN region, periods of dry weather led to an increase in hotspot activities, particularly over Sumatra and Kalimantan where isolated hotspots with localised smoke plumes were detected (Figures 1 and 2).

Figure 1: Himawari-8 satellite image on 15 July 2019 shows localised smoke plumes from hotspots detected in West Kalimantan.

Figure 2: Himawari-8 satellite image on 10 July 2019 shows localised smoke plumes from hotspots detected in Sumatra.

Review of Land Fires and Smoke Haze Situation for Second Fortnight of June 2019

1.1 In the second half of June 2019, hotspot activities in the Mekong sub-region were generally subdued due to rainy weather.

1.2 In the southern ASEAN region, dry weather prevailed over Sumatra and Kalimantan. An increase in hotspot activities were observed toward the end of the fortnight, and occasional smoke plumes were detected in parts of Sumatra and West Kalimantan on a few days.

Figure 1: Isolated hotspots detected in West Kalimantan based on NOAA-20 on 26 Jul 2019.

Figure 2: Isolated hotspots detected in Sumatra based on image from NOAA-20 satellite on 27 Jun 2019.