Indonesian Fires Create “Hazardous” Levels of Air Pollution in Singapore

Sep 24, 2015||2 minutes
9098810108_f3f6c5fb3a_z
Category
  • Fires
Topics
  • air quality
  • fires
  • Indonesia
  • singapore

By Susan Minnemeyer Fires in Indonesia continue to cause smog and haze across the region, with air pollutants reaching hazardous levels overnight in Singapore. As of 5am on September 25th, the country’s pollutant levels were the highest measured to date in 2015. At these levels, the entire population is likely to be adversely affected, and officials have already closed all primary and secondary schools until the situation improves.

AQI2

The sudden rise in poor air quality is likely occurring due to a shift in wind direction that is transporting smoke and haze from land and forest fires in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The District of Ogan Komering Ilir continues to lead in the number of active fire alerts, with 423 high-confidence hotspots in the last week. As WRI recently reported, Indonesia’s forest fires have hit their highest point in at least three years, most likely due to illegal burning on agricultural and peat lands. The country saw more than 13,000 fire alerts last week alone.

wind2

Half of the fires in Sumatra are occurring on carbon-rich peat lands, contributing to the extremely poor air quality and spewing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Some of the fires are also burning inside pulp and paper and oil palm concessions, others are on land controlled by smallholders. Precise fire locations can be easily seen by zooming in on Global Forest Watch Fires together with overlays of licenses and company names. Air quality continues to be poor across South Sumatra and Kalimantan, with demonstrations taking place in Central Kalimantan to demand greater action against the fires. Citizens wishing to take action against the fires may join the Global Forest Watch Fires campaign with Tomnod to tag illegal fires in Indonesia captured by Digital Globe ultra-high resolution satellites. Data collected on the location of active fires and burn scars will be shared with authorities investigating the perpetrators of Indonesia’s ongoing fires crisis.

alerts
peat

This post originally appeared on WRI Insights. BANNER PHOTO: Singapore during the 2013 haze crisis. Photo by Choo Yut Shing (Flickr).

Category
  • Fires
Topics
  • air quality
  • fires
  • Indonesia
  • singapore

Explore More Articles

forest_fire_borneo
Aug 29, 2023|Data and Research|9 minutes

The Latest Data Confirms: Forest Fires Are Getting Worse

The latest data on forest fires confirms: Fires are becoming more widespread, burning nearly twice as much tree cover today as 20 years ago.

Bobcat fire Los Angeles
Sep 16, 2020|Climate|4 minutes

6 Graphics Explain the Climate Feedback Loop Fueling US Fires

Increased emissions lead to higher temperatures and more fire-prone conditions. More fires mean more emissions, fueling rapid climate change.

Alta Fires 20190520
Feb 13, 2020|Fires|5 minutes

Intense Boreal Forest Fires a Climate Concern

The Chuckegg Creek wildfire sparked in the province of Alberta, Canada on May 12, 2019. Over the next three months, the blaze burned across 280,000 hectares, forcing more than 10,000 people to evacuate their homes. On the Global Forest Watch(GFW) Fires platform, bright red fire alerts were visible blossoming out across the landscape. Chuckegg Creek […]

Explore More Articles
forest_fire_borneo
Aug 29, 2023|Data and Research|9 minutes

The Latest Data Confirms: Forest Fires Are Getting Worse

Bobcat fire Los Angeles
Sep 16, 2020|Climate|4 minutes

6 Graphics Explain the Climate Feedback Loop Fueling US Fires

Alta Fires 20190520
Feb 13, 2020|Fires|5 minutes

Intense Boreal Forest Fires a Climate Concern

fetching comments...