Abstract
In August 2005, the recurring Southeast Asia haze from forest fires has blanketed parts of Southern Thailand. Particulate matter (PM10) is the most significant pollutant during the haze episode. The highest 24h PM10 concentration during the period was 92 µg/m3 in Songkhla and 108 µg/m3 in Phuket cities. Though the levels were still below the PM10 National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 120 µg/m3, they were considerably higher than the average levels in August, i.e. 39 µg/m3 in Songkhla and 56 µg/m3 in Phuket. NOAA satellite images showed numerous hot spots in Sumatra Island of Indonesia during the period of 10-15 August 2005, when the smoke blanketed Southern of Thailand. The variation in daily PM10 levels was largely dependent on the direction of prevailing winds and the intensity of fire at the source region. Backward trajectories obtained by HYSPLIT4 model revealed that on the days when PM10 peaked the air mass trajectories had passed the Sumatra Island following prevailing Southwesterly wind before arriving at Southern Thailand. The transport of haze from the source region to Southern Thailand during this time took only 1-2 days. Fires in the central Sumatra might be potential transboundary air pollution in Southern Thailand.
Presentation: http://www.cleanairnet.org/baq2006/1757/docs/SP12_3.ppt
Full paper:
Southeast Asia Haze, Particulate Matter, Thailand, Transboundary air pollution |
