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)