PSI enters moderate range at 55, highest in more than three months
Leonard Lim Straits Times 12 Sep 11;
FROM shoppers in town to golfers at a tournament in Yishun, Sunday routines across the island were scuttled by the haze yesterday.
The daily Pollutants Standard Index (PSI) hit its highest level in more than three months, crossing into the moderate range with a reading of 55. The last time the PSI was this high was on June 2, when it reached 56.
Saturday's reading was 41, which is in the good range.
The National Environment Agency (NEA) said yesterday that the haze was due partly to a change in the direction of the winds over Singapore, from southeasterly to south-southwesterly. Farmers and logging companies in Indonesia clear land using fire during June to September, the region's dry season.
'Over the past week, dry weather conditions in the southern and central parts of Sumatra have led to an increase in hot-spot activities there,' an NEA spokesman added. The situation is expected to continue today and tomorrow if fires in Sumatra persist, he said.
Mr Joel Seah, 23, who has asthma and sinus problems, reported coughing more than usual yesterday as large swathes of Singapore were blanketed by haze, especially the west.
The church worker, who was watching a movie in nex shopping mall instead of being outdoors, said: 'It's like there's constant phlegm in my throat. It can get a little uncomfortable.'
Full-time national serviceman Muhammad Salihin, 21, was another of those affected. He went to the Marina Barrage yesterday morning to film an outdoor kite-flying scene so he could submit it for a competition.
But he and his friends were unable to film the city skyline because of the haze. They will now will have to return next weekend, with time running out before their Sept 30 deadline.
Mr Salihin said: 'It would have been best if it was a clear day. But now it's so cloudy it doesn't look nice.'
From the barrage, views of the Central Business District were shrouded by the haze. HDB blocks in the distance, usually easily spotted on clear days, were barely visible.
Visitors there reported a heavy smell of smoke at about 11am, which got better in the afternoon. 'Our whole family came, 12 of us, from different parts of Singapore. So we decided to stay on,' said housewife Lily Tan, 48.
Australian couple Brian and Kerry Plummer were also left disappointed after a wasted trip up the Singapore Flyer at around 12.30pm.
Ms Plummer, 45, said: 'It got quite dark during our half hour up on the Flyer. And usually the queue is quite long, but today we just walked straight in.'
Some of the 71 golfers competing in the final round of the ISPS Handa Singapore Classic Asian Tour event at Orchid Country Club were also complaining.
South African James Kamte said his driving distance was affected. The 29-year-old, who was wearing contact lenses, added: 'The haze did irritate my eyes a bit, especially since I forgot to bring my sunglasses to Singapore.'
Orchard Road was also slightly less crowded than on a typical Sunday, with some shoppers retreating indoors and into underpasses to escape the smog.
A PSI reading of between 51 and 100 is in the moderate range. Air quality breached the unhealthy threshold of 100 last October, leading to calls for the Indonesian authorities to take action.
The NEA spokesman said the situation is expected to improve from around the middle of the week, when the winds over Singapore are forecast to blow from the southeast or east-southeast. But the traditional dry season in the region is likely to continue until early next month.
During this time, the haze may still affect Singapore during extended periods of dry weather, said the spokesman.
Associate Professor Matthias Roth of the National University of Singapore's geography department said yesterday that the situation could get better if, for instance, the number of hot spots falls.
He added: 'Rain may help to reduce the severity of the haze.'
With less than a fortnight to the annual Sept 23-25 Formula One night race at the Marina Bay area, there are also concerns the haze could affect visibility for the drivers, who hit speeds of up to 300kmh. A spokesman for the organiser, Singapore GP, said it will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Poor air quality and visibility in several parts of Singapore
Alvina Soh Today Online 12 Sep 11;
SINGAPORE - Residents in several parts of Singapore reported hazy skies and the smell of smoke in the air. They include areas such as Chinatown and Marina Bay.
The 24-hour PSI reading as at 4pm on Saturday was 41, with the air quality still in the good range.
The next PSI update on the National Environment Agency (NEA) website will be available at 4pm on Sunday.
NEA said on its website that the Southwest Monsoon season from June to September is the traditional dry season for the southern ASEAN region.
It said periods of dry weather, interspersed with the occasional thundery showers in the afternoon and "Sumatra" squalls in the pre-dawn and early morning, are common during this season.
An increase in hotspot activities can be expected during extended periods of dry weather.
With the prevailing winds blowing predominantly from the Southeast or Southwest, there is a likelihood that Singapore could be affected by transboundary smoke haze from Sumatra.
The impact of the smoke haze depends on factors such as the proximity and extent of the fires, the strength and direction of the prevailing winds and the incidence and amount of rain.
NEA said in the past few days, scattered hotspots with slight to moderate smoke haze have been detected mainly over the central and southern parts of Sumatra.
The winds over Singapore are expected to blow from the Southeast and occasionally from the south.
Singapore could experience brief periods of slightly hazy conditions should the fires in the region persist and if the winds blow from the south.
