Meteorological Conditions in South East Asia

26 January 1999


The ASEAN Fire Weather Information System (ASFWIS) is a co-operation between ASEAN and the Canadian Forest Service. It provides maps describing the current fire weather situation in South East Asia. This system is based upon the Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System (CFFDRS) (for further infomation to the CFFDRS refer to ASFWIS), and is currently tested on an experimental basis. Studies have shown that the CFFDRS is applicable outside of Canada. Currently it is also used in a modified form in New Zealand (see References). In New Zealand  the Fire Weather Indices Fine Fuel Moisture Code (FFMC) and the Initial Spread Index (ISI) represent the fire danger in the scrublands. The Duff Moisture Code (DMC) is also applicable in South East Asia, because it potentially describes the moisture state of the upper peat layers in peat and peat swamp forests. All three parameters may serve as a suitable indicator of forest fire danger in South East Asia.

High Fire Danger in Northern Thailand

According to the ASFWIS for 25 January 1999 these parameters show various fire weather conditions over South East Asia.  The highest FFMC readings are recorded for northern Thailand, with the FFMC ranging between 90-92. Taking the DMC readings into account the fire danger ratings in northern Thailand indicate high fire danger for 25 January 1999. Due to substantial rainfall the fire danger in Indonesia is low.

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Fig.1. FFMC output of the ASFWIS

 

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 Fig.2. DMC output of the ASFWIS

 

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Fig.3. ISI output of the ASFWIS

 

These findings are consistent with the current weather reports from the Indonesian Meteorological Agency Badan Meteorologi dan Geofisika which forecasts rainy and cloudy conditions for Indonesia with temperatures between 21°C (Pekanbaru, Bandung) and 33°C (Jayapura, Kendari) and relative humidity ranging from 55% up to 98%. The general forecast for Indonesia is rainy and cloudy.

The Meteorological Service of Singapore reports on 26 January 1999 for the South East Asian region "Generally wet conditions were observed over the region except for Northern Sumatera. No hotspots were detected". The Meteorological Service states for the near future that: "rainfall in the region is expected to be near or above normal for the next few months. However it should be noted that many parts of Indonesia (Kalimantan and parts of Sumatera) would be in their traditional dry season in the next few months. As such, though extensive and prolonged smoke haze is unlikely for this period, occasional short periods (e.g. a few days) of slight to moderate haze in a more localised manner remain probable".

No fire update information is currently provided by the Integrated Forest Fire Management (IFFM) project in Samarinda (East Kalimantan)  and the Forest Fire Prevention and Control Project (FFPCP) in Palembang (Sumatera).

Summary: Although the current fire weather conditions do under normal conditions not favour extensive land clearing by fire or escaping wildfires, the consequences of the large wildfires of 1997-98 must been taken into consideration. These fires had caused extensive degradation of primary and secondary forests along with the spreading of "alang-alang" (Imperata cylindrica) grasslands. These grasslands facilitate the spread of uncontrolled fires over large areas. It can be predicted that in November-December with only moderate fire danger new vegetation fires will occur.

See also the IFFN Country Notes.


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