Ah Kwong & Friends

Haze is an atmospheric phenomenon where dust, smoke and other pollutant particles obscure the normal clarity of the sky. It occurs when dust and smoke particles accumulate in relatively dry air. When weather conditions block the dispersal of smoke and other pollutants they concentrate and form a usually low-hanging shroud that impairs visibility and may become a respiratory health threat. Dense haze caused by industrial pollution is also known as smog.

Sources for haze particles include farming (ploughing in dry weather), traffic, industry, forest fires and peat field fire.

Seen from afar (e.g. approaching airplane), haze is brownish, while mist is more blueish-grey. While haze is formed in relatively dryish air, in more humid air mist is formed, and the haze particles can even act as condensation nucleii for the mist droplets.

Haze in Southeast Asia
Haze is a regular problem in Southeast Asia caused by land and forest fires in Indonesia, especially Sumatra and Kalimantan. Those fires mainly affect Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, and occasionally Guam and Saipan The economic losses of the fires in 1997 have been estimated at US$9.3 billion. This includes damages in agriculture production, destruction of forest lands, health, transportation, tourism, and other economic endeavours. Not included are social, environmental, and psychological problems and long-term health effects. The latest bout of haze to occur in Malaysia, Singapore and the Malacca Straits was in October 2006, and was caused by smoke from fires in Indonesia being blown across the Straits of Malacca by south-westerly winds.

As a reaction, Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) signed Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution, formed a Regional Haze Action Plan (RHAP) and established a co-ordination and support unit (CSU). As part of this Action Plan and with the help of Canada, a monitoring and warning system for forest/vegetation fires was developed and implemented called Fire Danger Rating System (FDRS). Since September 2003 daily ratings have been issued by the Malaysian Meteorological Service (MMS).

But to this date, the haze problem persists as Indonesia grapples ineffectively to enforce legal policies on errant farmers.

Dam Fucking Haze, make me sick!!

AIR POLLUTANT INDEX (API) 17th Oct 2006
AREA/ TIME
Kangar, PERLIS /50*
Langkawi, KEDAH /54*
Alor Setar, KEDAH /49*
Bakar Arang, Sg. Petani, KEDAH /54*
USM, P.PINANG /62*
ILP, Perai, P.PINANG /59*
Seberang Jaya 2, Perai, P.PINANG /70*
Jalan Tasek, Ipoh, PERAK /82*
S K Jalan Pegoh, Ipoh, PERAK /80*
Kg. Air Putih, Taiping, PERAK /57*
Seri Manjung, PERAK /111*
Tanjung Malim, PERAK /79*
Gombak, SELANGOR /91*
Pelabuhan Kelang, SELANGOR /91*
Petaling Jaya, SELANGOR /89*
Country Heights, Kajang, SELANGOR /94*
Shah Alam, SELANGOR /90*
Kuala Selangor, SELANGOR /96*
Kuala Lumpur, W.PERSEKUTUAN /96*
Putrajaya, W.PERSEKUTUAN /93*
Labuan, W.PERSEKUTUAN /55*
Nilai, N.SEMBILAN /109*
Seremban, N.SEMBILAN /99*
Bukit Rambai, MELAKA /121*
Bandaraya MELAKA /111*
Pasir Gudang, JOHOR /92*
Larkin, JOHOR /126*
Muar, JOHOR /121*
Johor Bahru, JOHOR /134*
Pengkalan Chepa, KELANTAN /76*
M.Sult.Ismail, K.Bharu, KELANTAN /68*
Kemaman, TERENGGANU /93*
Kuala Terengganu, TERENGGANU /80*
Jerantut, PAHANG /90*
Indera Mahkota, Kuantan,PAHANG /81*
Balok Baru, Kuantan, PAHANG /112*
Kuching, SARAWAK /68*
Sibu, SARAWAK /67*
Bintulu, SARAWAK /61*
Miri, SARAWAK /51*
Sarikei, SARAWAK /64*
Limbang, SARAWAK /45*
Samarahan, SARAWAK /63*
Sri Aman, SARAWAK /78*
Kapit, SARAWAK /70*
Petra Jaya, SARAWAK /62*
Kota Kinabalu, SABAH /59*
Tawau, SABAH /83*
Keningau, SABAH /57*
Sandakan, SABAH /52*

Source from:Haze – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, 2006 Southeast Asian haze, Department Of Environment Malaysia

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