Hotspot and Haze Assessment (H2A) Workshop 2026 for the ASEAN Region, Singapore 3 – 5 March 2026
ASMC hosted the annual Hotspot and Haze Assessment (H2A) workshop for the Southeast Asia region during 3 – 5 March 2026. The three-day event brought together 17 participants representing 8 ASEAN Member States (AMS) and the ASEAN Secretariat. As part of the ASMC’s Capability-building Programme (ACaP), the workshop aims to strengthen regional expertise in weather forecasting, hotspot and haze surveillance, subseasonal-to-seasonal prediction methods, and climate projection analysis.
The programme facilitated knowledge sharing among environmental and meteorological professionals from various AMS, who presented their national approaches to fire prevention and mitigation strategies during the dry season. ASMC staff conducted training lectures and practical hands-on sessions related to satellite technology applications for fire detection and smoke haze monitoring. Participants also learned about Southeast Asia’s weather and climatic characteristics and how to interpret subseasonal and seasonal outlooks . The workshop also showcased the WMO Information System (WIS) 2.0 for data dissemination, ASMC’s ASEAN-wide burned area mapping product, and smoke haze dispersion modelling capabilities.
Participants had the opportunity to visit the Centre for Remote Imaging, Sensing and Processing (CRISP), which researches applications of remote sensing technology. CRISP researchers were invited to share on their remote sensing research initiatives and practical applications. Workshop participants had the opportunity to visit CRISP’s facilities which included satellite reception systems and air quality monitoring instruments such as PANDORA and AERONET systems. This site visit demonstrated how CRISP utilises these technologies to support haze detection and air quality surveillance activities.
The workshop created a valuable platform for knowledge exchange and professional networking among participants and instructors, connecting regional specialists engaged in fire monitoring, haze assessment, and environmental management activities.
Figure 1: Group photograph of ASMC staff and participants of the 2026 H2A workshop.
Figure 2: Participants’ sharing of local experience on fire and haze in their countries.
Figure 3: CRISP staff giving the participants a tour of their facilities.
Figure 4: ASMC staff and participants at a welcome dinner.