The Meteorological Service of Singapore reports on 21 February 2002 for the South East Asian region: "No hotspots were detected in Sumatra. The region is free from smoke and haze ." Forecasts of winds and surface pressure are also available.
Regional Surface Winds and Haze/Fire Map, 21 February 2002
(Source: Meteorological Service of
Singapore)
Review of Regional Weather and Smoke Haze
Some pockets of dry weather have started to develop over northern and central Sumatra and over a larger part of the northern half of Borneo in
January as the northeast monsoon rain-belt progresses further south of the Equator over Southern Sumatra and Java island.
The number of hot spots, however, was small on most days.
(SOURCE: Meteorological Service of Singapore)
Fig.1: Daily Hot Spots Counts over Kalimantan
in January 2002
(Source: Meteorological Service of
Singapore)
Fig.2: Daily Hot Spots Counts over Sumatra in
January 2002
(Source: Meteorological Service of
Singapore)
Weather and Haze Outlook
Tropical Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were near normal to slightly above normal in September 2001. Most forecasts of advanced
centres indicate SSTAs to increase slightly to above normal (+ 0.5º C ) by the end of the first quarter of 2002. This could indicate the possibility of the onset
of a weak El Nino episode in the second half of 2002.
The region is expected to transit from the current Southwest Monsoon Season to inter-monsoon conditions in October and November. While brief
periods of dry weather could still occur, particularly over southern Sumatra and Kalimantan in October 2001, most parts of the region should begin to
experience increased thundery shower activities in the coming months. These should bring about an end the potential of any smoke haze in the region for
the rest of 2001.
The Meteorological Service of Singapore 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 last year.
 |
 |
Rainfall charts for Sumatra and Kalimantan
(Source: Meteorological Service of
Singapore)
The GFMC displays selected and daily updated global and Asia-Pacific Experimental Climate Prediction Center (ECPC) Fire Weather Forecasts. These examples allow a quicklook and provide daily and weekly total forecasts and forecasted monthly totals. For background information refer to the ECPC products description page.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
| tomorrow | next week | next month |
Fire Weather Index (FWI) forecast for tomorrow (left),
this week (center) and the predicted
FWI total for next month (right) for the Western Pacific (1-3) and the Pacific Ocean (4-6)
regions.
The weekly total forecast and the monthly forecasted total 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.
(Source: ECPC
Fire Weather Index Forecast)
The Forest
Fire Prevention and Control Project (FFPCP)
The Forest Fire Prevention
and Control Project (FFPCP) in Palembang (Sumatra) closed on 30 November 2001.
The South Sumatra Forest Fire Management Project (SSFFMP) is expected to start
in June 2002 and will continue the work of FFPCP.
Meanwhile the daily fire map (hot-spot) and monthly drought index for Sumatra
will continue to be updated from time to time. The last map is dated 20 February 2002.
Fire overview map for Sumatra (20 February 2002)
(Source: FFPCP)
Haze
Prevention Group
The industrial initiative to combat haze in SE Asia started to develop a
website in February 2002. The website will include information about the
objectives of this industrial initiative and the projects that are implemented
to reduce wildfires and haze in pilot projects in Indonesia.
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 Integrated Forest Fire Management Project (IFFM) in Samarinda provides regulary updated hot spots maps of Kalimantan.