Meteorological Conditions in South East Asia: 23 November 1998
Meteorological Conditions in SouthEast Asia
23 November 1998
The ASEAN Fire Weather Information System (ASFWIS) 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 http://www.nofc.forestry.ca/fire/asean), 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 (Alexander 1994). 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.
Early Fire Danger Warning for Grasslands in Northern Thailand and Vietnam
According to the ASFWIS (http://www.nofc.forestry.ca/fire/asean/) for 23 November 1998 these parameters are slightly increasing almost all over South East Asia. The ISI readings in northern Thailand and northern Vietnam are over 16, indicating high fire danger rating in grasslands. The ISI which is comprised of the FFMC and wind speed serves as the indicator for fire danger in grasslands. (Since the ISI is highly dependent on windspeed as input it can track down rapid fire weather changes and is reacting faster than the FFMC and DMC Index). Due to changed weather conditions, the readings in Central Sumatera are slightly increasing over the last days.
Fig.1. FFMC output of the ASFWIS
Fig.2. DMC output of the ASFWIS
Fig.3. ISI output of the ASFWIS
These findings are consistent with the current weather reports from Badan Meteorologi dan Geofisika (http://bmg.cbn.net.id/) which records rainy and cloudy conditions for Indonesia with temperatures between 19 ° C (Bandung) and 34° C (Jambi and Pekanbaru) with relative humidity ranging from 52% up to 97%. The general forecast for whole Indonesia is cloudy and rainy.
The Meteorological Service of Singapore (http://www.gov.sg/metsin/hazed.html) reports for the South East Asian region “few hot spots over Sumatera”. It further states that the region is “generally clear of smoke haze”. 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”.
The FFPCP project in Palembang (http://www.mdp.co.id/ffpcp/overview.htm) records 27 hotspots on 18 November 1998 with a detection threshold of 320 K in Sumatera (an accumulation in the provinces of Sumut and Riau can be noted). The burning activities detected by the NOAA AVHRR sensor are land clearing fires. Attention must be given in these provinces of Sumatera to prevent the escape of these land-use fires into surrounding vegetation.
The IFFM/gtz Project (http://smd.mega.net.id/iffm/fdr.html) reports low fire danger based on the Keetch Byram Index used in East Kalimantan. The NOAA AVHRR receiving station of the project reported 41 hotspots on 23 October 1998 for Kalimantan with a detection threshold of 320 K, although the fire detection was obscured due to cloud coverage over Kalimantan. (http://smd.mega.net.id/iffm/hotspots_map.htm)
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.
References
Alexander, M.E: 1994. Proposed revision of fire danger class criteria for forest and rural areas in New Zealand. National Rural Fire Authority, Wellington, New Zealand. Circular 1994/2. 73 p.
