Workshop on the Use and Interpretation of Data for Fire and Haze Monitoring for the Southern ASEAN region
The ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) conducted a workshop on the Use and Interpretation of Data for Land/Forest Fires and Transboundary Haze for the southern ASEAN region in Singapore on 26 – 28 June 2019. Participants from the forestry, environment and pollution control sectors of Brunei, Malaysia and Thailand took part in the workshop.
ASMC engages with users from the forestry, environment and pollution control sectors in region through various means, including the conduct of customised training workshops.
In her welcome address, ASMC Director of Operations, Ms Patricia Ee emphasised the Centre’s commitment to serve the region as the ASEAN centre for monitoring, assessment and early warning of fires and transboundary smoke haze, and the need for collaboration among ASEAN Members to address land/forest fires and transboundary haze pollution issues.
The ASMC trainers shared on basic meteorology, remote sensing technologies, weather and climate prediction, as well as haze modelling tools. Case studies and exercises were incorporated so that participants could apply what they have learnt and acquire practical hands-on experience with the assistance of the trainer. The participants also visited an Air Quality Monitoring station and the ASMC operations centre.
Participants on a tour of the ASMC operational facilities (left) and an air quality monitoring station in Singapore (right). They were given a brief on how the Centre conducts monitoring and assessment of regional haze situation using the latest satellite technologies and numerical modelling tools.
Ms Haryanti Petra from the Brunei Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation commended the wide range of topics covered in the workshop and noted that the hands–on exercises and activities to assess hotspots and transboundary haze on satellite images were useful.
This training workshop was conducted as part of the 5-year Regional Capability Building Programme rolled out by the ASMC in 2018, aimed to benefit ASEAN Member States through the sharing of technical knowledge and skills. Under the Programme, ASMC is investing S$5 million to enhance its efforts in capability building covering four key priority areas, viz weather forecasting, sub-seasonal and seasonal prediction, climate change projections and haze monitoring.