Public Told To Stop Open Burning Activities
Public Told To Stop Open Burning Activities
3 March 2006
published by www.brudirect.com
Bandar Seri Begawan The general pubes has been asked to refrain from conducting open burning activities as the dry season has begun in Brunei that is likely to last until April.
The Brunei Meteorological Service Department of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Communications, in a press release yesterday, said slight haze conditions are expected during this period (February through March).
Observations over previous years have indicated that this is caused by relatively stable atmospheric condition over our region during the late Northeast Monsoon, and hence contributed to less rainfall.
The slightly dry conditions currently affecting our areas can be expected to persist until the middle of April. By that time, monsoon rain activity will normally start to increase and will gradually improve the situation.
The intensity of significant haze episodes that have previously affected our nation was highly inter-related with the prevailing low level wind flow, the anomalous atmospheric circulation due to the El Nino Southern Oscillation phenomenon, and the scale of trans boundary haze which occurred in the states of our neighbouring countries, like Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sarawak and Sabah. Originally it was caused by uncontrolled bush and forest fires as well as locally produced bush fires in the Sultanate.
According to the latest hotspot map issued by the Asean Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) in Singapore, only a few hotspots have been detected over Northern Sumatra and Southern Kalimantan.
Furthermore, both the modelled and observed value of the El Nino indicator (sea surface temperature time series. the Central Pacific Ocean) from the established Regional Meteorological Centres indicates a neutral to mild El Nina phase. Meanwhile northeast wind flows prevail at low levels, helping to transport haze from the source, hot spots, mostly towards the southwest or west of our region.
Therefore, based on the following information, during’ the next three months normal to slight levels of haze is expected, with horizontal visibility ranging from less than 10 kilometres to seven kilometres. Visibility may temporarily reduce to moderate levels especially in the early Southwest Monsoon.
The Brunei Meteorological Service said it will continue’ to monitor the conditions and will issue another press release, if necessary, during the Southwest Monsoon (June-September) when significant haze episodes are most likely to occur.
