The worst of Singapore haze is over, says NEA
By Yvonne Yong, channelnewsasia.com | Posted: 01 November 2006 1350
hrs
SINGAPORE: This years haze has been the worst since 1997,
according to the National Environment Agency (NEA).
But the worst of the haze for 2006 is over, and Singapore should
experience clearer skies for the remainder of the year.
Since the end of September, when Singapore first started to feel
the effects of burning fires and drifting smoke from Sumatra and
Borneo, there have been three days when the Pollutant Standards
Index (PSI) has hit 'unhealthy' levels above 100.
The highest recorded level for this year was 128 on October 7,
compared to 138 in 1997, when there were a total of twelve
unhealthy days.
The rising PSI levels this year prompted the NEA to provide hourly
PSI readings from October 6, based on average readings taken over
three hours.
This was so that Singaporeans could get an indication of the haze
levels throughout the day rather than wait for the more accurate
24-hr reading at 4pm.
Thirteen air pollutant monitoring stations throughout Singapore
measure the levels of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone,
carbon monoxide and PM10 in the air.
The main pollutant during the haze period has been PM10 or, in less
scientific terms, tiny particles of soot, dust, smoke, fumes and
aerosols.
The daily PSI reading for Singapore over the past month has
corresponded to the highest PM10 level (daily average) recorded in
any one of the North, South, East, West or Central regions.
Since 2000, the NEA has also been able to keep track of the number
of fires burning, or hotspots, in the region, via satellite.
The highest number of hotspots recorded on any one day this year
was 637, both on October 11 and 15.
Towards the end of October, the number of hotspots in Borneo have
remained in the hundreds, while those in Sumatra have reduced to
almost zero.
The NEA says the worst of the haze in Singapore is over for 2006,
with the air quality and PSI unlikely to venture into the
unhealthy range due to inter-monsoon conditions with light and
variable winds.
Inter-Monsoons are the transition periods between the traditional
dry and wet seasons in the region.
The Southwest Monsoon (dry season) usually lasts from May to
September and the Northeast Monsoon (wet season) from December to
March.
However, Singapore experienced rather dry conditions during October
this year with rainfall for the month recorded at below average for
about 90 per cent of the island.
The southern coastal areas including Sentosa Island and East Coast
Park were especially dry with only 10 to 40 mm of rain recorded (80
to 95 per cent below average).
Drier-than-normal weather not only in Singapore but also in Sumatra
and Kalimantan where forest fires have been occurring, has
contributed to the higher haze levels experienced in October.
Towards the end of October Singapore has had increasingly good
quality air with PSI readings below 50.
Forecasters say this is mainly due to the change in the wind
patterns and an increase in rainfall over fire-stricken areas in
the region.
The fact that Singapore has experienced more rain of late, with the
central area around MacRitchie Reservoir receiving 30 per cent more
rain than usual, has meant clearer skies as rain washes away haze
particles in the air.
yeah we are saved 
