The past decade marked record high air pollution episodes in Indonesia. In this study, we specifically focus on vegetation fires in Palangkaraya located near a Mega Rice Project area in Indonesia. We analyzed various gaseous air pollution data such as particulate matter (PM10), SO2, CO, O3, and NO2 study region. We also conducted elemental analysis at two different sites. Results from 2001 to 2010 suggested the longest hazardous air pollution episode during 2002 lasting about 80 days from mid-August to late-October. Maximum peak concentrations of PM10, SO2, CO, and O3 were also observed during 2002 and their values reached 1905, 85.8, 38.3, and 1003×10(-6) gm(-3) respectively. Elemental analysis showed significant increase in concentrations during 2011 and 2010. Satellite retrieved fires and weather data could explain most of the temporal variations. Our results highlight peat fires as a major contributor of photochemical smog and air pollution in the region.
MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) hotspot and precipitation data for the most recent 11-year period (2002 to 2012) were analyzed to elucidate recent trends in the seasonal and spatial fire occurrence in Sumatra and the relationship with precipitation. Using a latitude line of S 0.5°, Sumatra was divided into two regions, N. (north) and S. (south) Sumatra. Different trends in seasonal fire occur-rence were discussed and further defined by considering two different precipitation patterns. Analysis of hotspot (fire) data was carried out using 0.5° × 0.5° grid cells to evaluate recent trends of spatial fire oc-currence. Analysis results of hotspot and precipitation data were also tallied every 10-day to find the rela-tionship between seasonal fire occurrence and the dry season. Standard deviation (SD) and variance (V) were then used to evaluate fire occurrences in Sumatra and Kalimantan objectively. The relatively mild fire occurrence tendency in Sumatra compared to Kalimantan could be the result of different stages of forest development or the high deforestation rate in Sumatra compared with Kalimantan. This paper also shows that the two different seasonal fire activities in N. and S. Sumatra were closely related to the two different dry season types: a winter and summer dry season type (WD & SD) in N. Sumatra, and a summer dry season type (SD) in S. Sumatra. Extreme fire occurrences in the Dumai region in 2005 and Palembang region in 2006 could be partially explained by a severe drought occurrence enhanced by two different kinds of El Niño events
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