Is the haze coming back ???

[Duck4U]

Originally Posted by skyleon

The best part is this report did not indicate where the haze is coming from .

The media is best in hiding information

[skyleon]

Hazy conditions return briefly but no major hotspots detected: NEA

Published: 7:40 AM, April 21, 2017

Updated: 3:08 PM, April 21, 2017



SINGAPORE — No major hotspots have been detected in the region and the current likelihood of a return of transboundary haze "is low", the National Environment Agency (NEA) said as the skies over Singapore turned hazy for a brief spell on Friday (April 21).

The hazy conditions, particularly over southern and eastern Singapore early on Friday morning, was due to "accumulation of particulate matter under light wind conditions", NEA added. The skies cleared up after heavy and widespread rain fell over Singapore in the morning.

"Based on the latest satellite images, there were no significant hotspots or smoke haze detected in the nearby region," said NEA in a statement. "The likelihood of transboundary haze affecting Singapore is low."

Some residents woke up to the unwelcome sight of hazy skies on Friday morning, as the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) readings edged towards to the unhealthy range.

The overall 24-hour PSI readings for Singapore at 7am was between 62 and 93. The southern and eastern parts of Singapore registered the highest readings, at 93 and and 87 respectively.

The readings have since fallen. At 3pm, the overall 24-hour PSI readings for Singapore were between 59 to 87, which is in the moderate range.



continue reading here : http://www.todayonline.com/hazy-cond...healthy-region


The question now is can we trust the official media to give the public a true and accurate picture ?

[SiaSuay]

Originally Posted by Duck4U

The media is best in hiding information

The question is why need to hide such information from the public ? Then later it will be expose by foreign media .

[jcang]

Yup. Yday was very hazy....

[skyleon]

S’pore pledges cooperation with Indonesia to tackle haze




By Siau Ming En

Published: 4:00 AM, July 13, 2017




SINGAPORE — Ahead of the need for continued vigilance in the upcoming dry season, Environment and Water Resources Minister Masagos Zulkifli has told Indonesian leaders that Singapore is committed to help combat fires should the need arise.

During a two-day visit to Jakarta and Palembang which ended on Tuesday, Mr Masagos reaffirmed the Republic’s commitment to cooperate with Indonesia in addressing environmental challenges, including the haze issue.

He told Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs Wiranto in Jakarta that Singapore is prepared to provide a C-130 aircraft for cloud seeding operations, a Singapore Civil Defence Force team to provide assessment and planning assistance in fire-fighting efforts, up to two C-130 aircraft to ferry the fire-fighting assistance team, as well as high-resolution satellite pictures of fires and the coordinates of the fire sites.

Mr Masagos also expressed his appreciation for the measures put in place by the Indonesian Government, which contributed to the haze-free skies last year.

Thanking Mr Masagos for conveying the Singapore Government’s support, Coordinating Minister Wiranto also stressed the need for close cooperation in combatting the haze.

Transboundary haze, a long-standing problem in South-east Asia, is largely caused by the drainage of carbon-rich peatland, as well as fires started by farmers and companies to clear land for agriculture and industrial plantations.

Between September and November 2015, Singapore experienced its worst haze, with the Pollutant Standards Index hitting hazardous levels.


continue reading here : http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...ia-tackle-haze


I truly hope the haze don't come back this year . What if the haze comes back ? Will somebody resign and take full responsibility ?

[skyleon]

Haze unlikely to hit Singapore next week despite Indonesia fires



Winds over Sumatra will help the Republic escape forest smoke, says NEA

Published: 8:50 PM, July 27, 2017

Updated: 11:10 PM, July 27, 2017



SINGAPORE — The likelihood of transboundary haze affecting the Republic is “expected to be low” for the rest of this week and next week, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Thursday (July 27), as parts of Indonesia continued to be shrouded in smoke from forest fires.

This is because “the prevailing winds over Sumatra are expected to continue to blow from the south-east or south”, it said in response to TODAY’s queries.

Six Indonesian provinces have declared states of emergency as peatlands burn and the risk of fires spreading elsewhere increased during the annual dry season.

There are currently about 180 hot spots in Indonesia — Aceh, Riau, Jambi, South Sumatra, West Kalimantan and South Kalimantan provinces — but the number is significantly lower than in 2015, when haze cloaked large parts of South-east Asia.

Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) reported 51 hot spots in Sumatra on Thursday, of which 37 were in Aceh province. Northern Sumatra has seven hot spots, Riau four and North and South Sumatra as well as Bengkuli and Bangka Belitung each recorded one hot spot each.

A number of schools in West Aceh district were closed as a result of the smoke, while visibility at the Meulaboh airport was reported to be about 500m, according to the Indonesian media.

Hospitals have reported an increased number of people seeking treatment for respiratory ailments.

“My throat feels scratchy and uncomfortable from breathing ... smoke has even entered my house,” housewife Yus, who like most Indonesians goes by one name, told Antara news agency. As a result, many residents have left their homes, seeking shelter with relatives.


continue reading here : http://www.todayonline.com/singapore...-two-weeks-nea

[skyleon]

NEA starts issuing haze advisories after increase in hotspots in Indonesia


04 Aug 2017 08:12PM (Updated: 04 Aug 2017 08:56PM)



SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) will issue daily haze advisories from Friday (Aug 4), as there has been an increase in hotspot activities over parts of Sumatra and western Kalimantan in Indonesia in recent weeks.

Weather conditions in the region have also become drier, NEA added.

Localised hotspots with smoke plumes have been observed in central and southern Sumatra. There were 29 of such hotspots on Jul 30, the highest daily count over the past few days.

On Friday, three hotspots were detected in Sumatra, said NEA, but no visible smoke plume or haze was observed.

In its advisory, NEA said the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) for the next 24 hours in Singapore is forecast to be in the good to moderate range. The agency added that it is monitoring the smoke haze and would provide updates if the situation deteriorates.

"For the next few days, the prevailing winds over Singapore and the surrounding region are forecast to blow from the south-southeast," the agency said. "With dry weather conditions forecast to persist in parts of central and southern Sumatra, an increase in hotspot activities can be expected."

Read more at http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/...ots-in-9093734


Standby your N95 face mask .

[SiaSuay]

Why is it every year is the same ?

[skyleon]

Recent hazy conditions due to accumulation of particle matter; low chance of transboundary haze, says NEA


PUBLISHEDOCT 26, 2017, 9:13 AM SGT

Lee Min Kok

SINGAPORE - The recent hazy conditions here are due to accumulated particle matter under light winds, according to the National Environment Agency (NEA).

NEA, which issues daily updates on the haze situation, first warned that Singapore may experience "slightly hazy conditions in the morning" last Tuesday (Oct 17).

Since then, haze-like conditions have been reported in certain areas over the past week. Photos taken by The Straits Times on Wednesday evening from the Marina Bay area showed hazy skies.

According to NEA, however, the likelihood of the country being affected by transboundary haze remains low.

"There were eight hot spots detected in southern Sumatra, and no visible smoke plume or haze was observed," NEA said in its last update on Wednesday.

The hourly concentration readings for PM2.5 - tiny pollutant particles associated with haze - for the next 24 hours are expected to stay in the normal range.

Hazy conditions were also experienced in the first week of October, prompting fears that fires were once again burning in the region.

However, air-quality experts whom The Straits Times spoke to clarified that it was not transboundary haze. They instead attributed the conditions to the concentration of particle vapour and local emissions from cars and factories.

While such particles usually disperse on their own, cloudy conditions and little wind could have caused certain areas to appear hazy.


continue reading here : http://www.straitstimes.com/singapor...-low-chance-of


Is the haze back ? Is it time to use the N95 mask ?

[yobyella]

Originally Posted by SiaSuay

Why is it every year is the same ?

No choice. U want oxygen or not?

[GCEresult]

Originally Posted by yobyella

No choice. U want oxygen or not?

Who say no choice ? Choice is in your own hands every 5 years .

[yobyella]

Originally Posted by GCEresult

Who say no choice ? Choice is in your own hands every 5 years .

What can a small island do? Go UN?

[skyleon]

Disaster alert declared in four Indonesian provinces as forest fire threat looms


By Victor Loh




Published 20 February, 2018

Updated 20 February, 2018



SINGAPORE — Indonesia's disaster agency has declared disaster alert status for four provinces, including Riau province near Singapore, as the number of hotspots from forest fires spiked.

The affected provinces are South Sumatra, Riau, West Kalimantan and Central Kalimantan.

The alert status will allow the central government to mobilise resources to easily mitigate any fire threats, the Indonesian National Board for Disaster Management (BNPB) said in a statement on Wednesday (Feb 21).

The four provinces — which lie close to the equator — are currently entering the start of the dry season, BNPB added.

The dry season in Indonesia usually happens in two phases: From the middle of January to March, and June to September. It is interrupted by the rainy season from March to May.

In the last 24 hours alone, weather satellites are said to have detected some 90 hotspots in Indonesia.

On Tuesday, data from the Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC) showed two hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan.



continue reading here : https://www.todayonline.com/singapor...e-threat-looms

[skyleon]

Singapore 'unlikely' to be affected by haze in next 2 weeks: NEA


21 Feb 2018 06:49PM (Updated: 21 Feb 2018 06:50PM)



SINGAPORE: Transboundary haze is "unlikely" to affect Singapore in the next two weeks, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) on Wednesday (Feb 21), after four Indonesian provinces declared disaster alerts for forest fires.

"The dry weather conditions are expected to gradually ease, and an increase of shower activities will help to subdue the hotspots in Sumatra and Kalimantan," said NEA on its website.

The agency added that based on satellite images, a total of five hotspots were detected in Sumatra and 73 hotspots in Kalimantan between Feb 16 and Feb 20.

However, for this week and the next, prevailing winds over the region are expected to blow from the northwest or northeast. "The likelihood of transboundary haze affecting Singapore is currently assessed to be low," said NEA.

Read more at https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news...-fires-9977992

[Baigonggong]

Ah Gong hoped that the haze will not come back .