The Forest Buddies |
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Save The Forests, Save Our Lives |
| Haze | ||
| Introduction When an abundant amount of dust, smoke and pollutants come together, our visibility is impaired. This condition is known as haze.
Composition Dust and ash, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide are the components of haze. The pungent smell is due to sulphur dioxide. Causes Haze can be caused by human’s actions. Farmers burn leaves and dead wood to clear land for shifting cultivation. Forest fires which cause the haze are also brought about by loggers and paper pulp producers who burn forests for commercial use. In 2006, the haze occurred mainly from fires in the peat bogs. In the forests, dead vegetation becomes water logged and decayed to become peat. Peat holds lots of moisture. When they are drained for logging and agriculture, prolonged fire will ensue. Indices The severity of haze is often measured using automated optical instruments such as Nephelometers. In Singapore and Brunei, haze is measured in Pollutant Standards Index (PSI). The PSI measures sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and dust and ash on a 0 to 500 scale. In Malaysia, it is measured in Air Pollution Index (API). In America, it is measured in Air Quality Index (AQI). The Malaysian APIs most hazardous category is above 500. Above 500, a state of emergency is declared in the reporting area. This means that non essential government services are discontinued and ports are closed. Wind Factor and the Areas Affected Fires burn down forests to clear land during the dry season in Sumatra and Kalimantan. Regular fires during the dry season in Indonesia, especially Sumatra and Kalimantan, cause haze affecting many South-East Asian countries. |
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| Sources: | ||
| Haze. (2007, November 26). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10:51, December 27, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Haze&oldid=173913037 | ||
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