Clearer skies as PSI stays within 'good' range

Feng Zengkun Straits Times 9 Sep 12;

The haze over Singapore continued to lift yesterday, bringing improved air quality across the island.

At 4pm yesterday, the 24-hour average of the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) ranged from 33 to 41 - within the "good" range - at various places.

The latest reading publicised at 7pm, a three-hour average, was 40.

This was a dramatic change from Friday morning when the three-hour average hit a one-year high of 79, putting the air quality within the "moderate" range of 51 to 100. Air quality is deemed unhealthy when the index crosses 100.

Some residents said the cleaner air was a relief after several days of tear-inducing discomfort caused by the haze.

"I kept coughing and having to clear my throat because it felt like it was being clogged," said research assistant Jamie Leong, 29.

The departure of the haze yesterday was also a relief for participants in the Singapore National Games, which ends today.

Said Mr Yusoff Khan, 60, who ran in several events at Bishan Stadium yesterday: "I had to stop training a few times last week because the haze was so thick, so I'm glad it cleared up before the competition."

The National Environment Agency (NEA) said on its website on Friday that prevailing winds from the south and south-east over the weekend would not be carrying any smoke haze this way.

The annual haze is caused by farmers and logging companies in Indonesia - particularly in Riau, Sumatra, Kalimantan, Jambi and Aceh - who burn forests to clear land for cultivation between June and September, the region's dry season.

The air quality in nearby countries such as Malaysia also improved yesterday.

In Pasir Gudang in Johor, for example, the Air Pollutant Index fell from 92 on Friday to 56 yesterday morning.

The NEA said on Friday that it expects the burning activities in southern Sumatra to continue this week due to dry weather.

"We might still experience hazy conditions on some days if the wind direction changes to south- westerly," it said.

Hourly updates on Singapore's air quality between 7am and 7pm are available on the NEA's website. These reflect the average of the PSI readings for the previous three hours.

Singapore's air quality in "good" range
Channel NewsAsia 8 Sep 12;

SINGAPORE: Singapore's three-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) at 11am on Saturday stood at 39, which was in the "good" range.

The PSI held within the "good" range throughout the morning, fluctuating between a reading of 35 and 41.

The National Environment Agency (NEA) on Friday introduced hourly updates on Singapore's air quality from 7am to 7pm daily to keep the public informed of the haze situation.

According to the NEA, for the past one week, an increase in hotspot activities was observed over Sumatra.

The prevailing winds blowing from the southwest or south have transported the haze from fires in southern Sumatra towards Singapore.

The winds are expected to be maintained over the weekend and bring an improvement to the hazy conditions.

- CNA/al