Forest Fires and Meteorological Conditions in South East Asia
24 March 2000
The Meteorological Service of Singapore reports on 24 March 2000 for the South East Asian region: "Cloudy and wet conditions over many parts of Kalimantan.The region is generally clear of smoke haze and hot spots." Forecasts of winds and surface pressure are also available.
Fig. 1. Regional Surface Winds and Haze/Hot Spot Map, 24 March 2000
(Source: Meteorological Service of Singapore)
The Meteorological Service of Singapore also provides rainfall-record charts for selected locations in Sumatra and Kalimantan with information about the mean annual rainfall and the actual monthly and weekly records for this year.
Fig.2. Rainfall charts for Kalimantan
(Source: Meteorological Service of Singapore)
Fig.3. Rainfall charts for Sumatra
(Source: Meteorological Service of Singapore)
The GFMC displays selected and daily updated global and Asia-Pacific Experimental Climate Prediction Center (ECPC) Fire Weather Forecasts (Fig.2-7). These examples allow a quicklook and provide daily and weekly total forecasts, and forecasted monthly anomalies (for next month). For background information refer to the ECPC products description page.
Fig.4.-9. Fire Weather Index (FWI) forecast for tomorrow (left), next week (center) and the predicted FWI anomaly for next month (right) for the Western Pacific and the Pacific Ocean. The daily forecast refers to 12:00 hrs noon UTC (Greenwich) time; the weekly total forecast and the monthly forecasted anomaly refer to 00:00 hrs UTC, which is local noon at dateline (180° longitude). Forecast time is 12:00 hrs noon UTC (Greenwich) corresponding to local evening time in mainland and insular SE Asia (updated: 24 March 2000).
(Source: ECPC)
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). 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.
According to the ASFWIS for 23 March 2000 these parameters show various fire weather conditions over South East Asia.
Fine Fuel Moisture Code
Duff Moisture Code
Drought Code
Initial Spread Index
Buildup Index
Fire Weather Index
Fig.10.-15. Output maps of the ASFWIS, 23 March 2000 (update: 24 March 2000)
The ASEAN Haze Action Online provides the following information:
- Monitoring: Hyperlinks to institutions involved in regional monitoring and prediction of fire and smoke haze
- Haze News: ASEAN Transboundary Haze Update (updated daily)
- Intranet: Information and possible participation in the ASEAN Haze Action Online Intranet Information Services (for associated registered participants)
- Mobilization Plan: Model Fire Suppression Mobilization Plan
- Inventory: Inventory and analysis of forest and land fire suppression capabilities
- Haze Forum: Communication platform on fire and smoke-haze issues in the ASEAN region
- Calendar: Fire and haze-related events can be identified by a search modus
The Forest Fire Prevention and Control Project (FFPCP) in Palembang (Sumatra) provided a fire overview map for Sumatra on the 22 March 2000.
The newest fire overview map for the Integrated Forest Fire Management (IFFM) project in Kalimantan shows 34 hotspots on the 16 March 2000.
Smoke in Thailand
Thick Smoke Cancels Thai FlightsMAE HONG SON, Thailand (AP) - Flights to the border town of Mae Hong Son in northwestern Thailand were canceled Thursday because of poor visibility caused by thick smoke from brush fires, an airline official said. ``The visibility is way below the standard for flying,'' said Sayamol Khajadpai, a public relation officer for the airline. ``We may have to cancel Friday's flights as well if it is not getting better.''
Brush fires this year have already burned more than 1,580 acres (640 hectares) in seven districts of the province. The forestry department's firefighter units are still battling to put out the fires, but insist they have the situation under control, said Mae Hong Son Governor Poj U-thana. The governor blamed the fires on villagers who try to clear land by burning the growth on it. He said the practice continued despite publicity campaigns against it and the threat of jail terms.
Summary: Although the current fire weather conditions do under normal conditions not favour extensive land clearing by fire or escaping wildfires in Indonesia, 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.
See also the IFFN Country Notes.