Best of our wild blogs: 31 May 14

The right way to “rescue” a helpless chick
from Bird Ecology Study Group

Silty but lively at Pasir Ris
from wild shores of singapore

Chek Jawa (18 May 2014)
from teamseagrass

Getting to know Singapore’s farmers
from The Tender Gardener

Toddycats at the Faculty of Science Open House (17 May 2014)
from Toddycats!

"Human error and poor judgement" cause of 3 oil spills in 2 weeks in Jan-Feb 2014
from wild shores of singapore

Read more!

Coming months will be hotter and drier in Singapore

Channel NewsAsia 30 May 14;

SINGAPORE: Expect hotter and drier weather in the coming months. The Meteorological Service Singapore on Friday (May 30) said it is forecasting weak to moderate El Niño conditions to develop in the next few months. This will bring drier and warmer conditions to Singapore and the region.

The Met agency says rainfall for the coming Southwest Monsoon season between June and September, could range below 10 to 40 per cent below average. The average temperature is expected to be 1 degree Celsius above average.

Rainfall in May has been above average for most parts of Singapore. However, drier weather can be expected from the second week of June with the onset of the Southwest Monsoon. This is the traditional dry season for the region.

The El Niño refers to the abnormal warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean and is known to disrupt normal weather patterns. It is predicted to develop as early as end July this year.

While the El Niño conditions are expected to be weak to moderate, the prolonged drier and hotter weather conditions could increase the risk of transboundary haze from land and forest fires in the region. Met officials warn that Singapore could be affected depending on the location of the hotspots, and the wind.

In anticipation of the drier weather, an Inter-Agency Haze Task Force has been activated. And to make up for the lower rainfall, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) will ramp up its production of NEWater and desalinated water to maintain reservoir levels and the water supply. In light of this, PUB is urging businesses and members of the public to conserve water.

- CNA/ly

Warmer, drier weather in Singapore between June and September: NEA
Today Online 30 May 14;

SINGAPORE — The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) has predicted drier, warmer weather in Singapore in the next few months, following the rise of weak to moderate El Nino conditions across South-east Asia, said the National Environment Agency (NEA) in a press release today (May 30).

While rainfall this month has been above average for most parts of Singapore, the NEA said the traditional dry season between June and September is expected to start from the second week of next month, as a result of the coming Southwest Monsoon season.

Rainfall in Singapore over the coming Southwest Monsoon season between this period could range between 10 and 40 per cent below average, while the average daily temperature is expected to be about 1°C above average, said the NEA.

Prolonged warmer and drier conditions during El Nino will increase the risk of the occurrence of transboundary smoke haze from land and forest fires across Southeast Asia, said the NEA, and Singapore could be affected, depending on various factors such as wind direction and the locations of hotspots in the fire-prone areas.

In anticipation of drier weather, the Inter-Agency Haze Task Force has started preparing to combat the haze. The NEA said: “Forecasts and advisories will take into account the new PSI system, as well as the revised Ministry of Health (MOH)’s health advisories and Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s workplace guidelines”.

The PUB also urged water conservation, as reservoir stock levels are expected to be affected by drier weather.

Meanwhile, the MSS will continue to monitor the conditions in the tropical Pacific leading to the development of the El Nino, as well as the regional weather and haze situation, and provide necessary updates, NEA added.

Expect hotter and drier months ahead
Feng Zeng Kun The Straits Times AsiaOne 31 May 14;

SINGAPORE - Get ready for hotter and drier days than usual over the next four months, with an increased likelihood of haze as well.

The El Nino weather phenomenon, involving abnormal warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean, is to blame, said the Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) yesterday. Average daily temperatures are expected to be 1 deg C hotter than the long-term averages of 27.2-27.7 deg C for those months.

Also, rainfall is expected to be 10 to 40 per cent less than the long-term averages, in a period that is already the region's traditional dry season.

"Prolonged drier and warmer conditions during an El Nino will increase the risk of the occurrence of transboundary smoke haze from land and forest fires in the region," said the MSS.

With the unfavourable forecast, national water agency PUB is strongly urging people and businesses to conserve water as reservoir levels will fall in the months head because of the hotter weather and decreased rainfall.

"PUB will have to ramp up its production of Newater and desalinated water to maintain reservoir stock and ensure water availability," it said.

The Inter-Agency Haze Task Force comprising 23 government agencies is on the alert, and the members are coordinating plans to prepare for haze.

The Ministry of Education, for example, will consider closing primary and secondary schools to students if air quality is expected to be "hazardous" the day after.

The Government has stockpiled 16 million N95 masks to ease any shortages. The MSS said it will "closely monitor conditions in the tropical Pacific that lead to the development of El Nino, as well as the regional weather and haze situation, and provide updates if necessary".

El Ninos occur every three to five years on average. Scientists believe they are caused by a combination of simultaneous atmospheric and oceanic factors such as weakening easterly winds.

During an El Nino, a warm pool of water in the western Pacific Ocean sloshes eastwards, triggering thunderstorms that move away from South-east Asia towards the United States and South America.

A "strong" El Nino in 1997 resulted in droughts in Indonesia and severe flooding along the west coast of South America.

Here in Singapore, rainfall for June to September that year was about half of the usual average.

This year's El Nino is not expected to be severe, but rather "weak to moderate". In 2009, during a moderate El Nino, rainfall for June to September was about 20 per cent below the long-term average, while temperatures were about 1.1 degrees warmer.

Experts said temperature increases on some days could exceed the projected 1 deg C rise in average temperatures.

"At the very least, the rise in temperatures will cause more thermal discomfort for people who spend time outdoors," said Assistant Professor Winston Chow from the National University of Singapore's Department of Geography.

El Nino Advisory And Outlook For The Southwest Monsoon Season
NEA advisory

Singapore, 30 May 2014 – The Meteorological Service Singapore (MSS) is forecasting weak to moderate El Niño conditions to develop in the next few months, bringing drier and warmer conditions to Singapore and the region. Rainfall for Singapore over the coming Southwest Monsoon season between June and September 2014 could range between 10 - 40% below average, while the average daily temperature is expected to be about 1°C above average (refer to Table 1 for average values).

2 The El Niño refers to the abnormal warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean and is known to disrupt normal weather patterns in various regions of the world. In Southeast Asia, the effect of the El Niño is prolonged drier and warmer weather in large parts of the region. (further information on the El Niño is given in Annex A).

3 Since March 2014, the sea-surface temperature in the tropical Pacific has been warming steadily. This is a known precursor to an El Niño build-up. Based on the latest warming trend in the Pacific Ocean, as well as the computer model forecasts from various global climate centres, El Niño conditions could develop as early as end July. The strength of the El Niño is forecast to be weak to moderate and is likely to peak in the last quarter of the year. Typically, an El Niño which peaks late in the year will start to weaken in the first half of the following year.

4 Based on past El Niño events of moderate strength, Singapore is expected to experience below average rainfall during the June to September period, which is also the traditional dry season in the region that is brought about by the Southwest Monsoon. In 1963, when an El Niño of moderate strength occurred, Singapore’s rainfall total over this four-month period was reduced by almost 40% compared to the long-term average. In the more recent occurrence of a moderate El Niño in 2009, the corresponding figure was about 20% below the long-term average. Average daily temperature for the same period in 2009 was 1.1°C warmer than the long-term average of 27.4°C. The relationship between El Niño strength and impact on rainfall is however not straightforward, as there are also other factors affecting local and regional rainfall patterns.

5 Rainfall in May 2014 has so far been above average for most parts of Singapore. However, drier weather can be expected from the second week of June 2014 with the onset of the Southwest Monsoon. For the next four months (June-September 2014), rainfall is expected to be below average for most parts of Singapore, and average daily temperature is expected to be above average.

6 Prolonged drier and warmer conditions during an El Niño will increase the risk of the occurrence of transboundary smoke haze from land and forest fires in the region. Depending on various factors such as wind direction and locations of hotspots in the fire-prone areas, Singapore could be affected by transboundary smoke haze during this period.

7 MSS will continue to closely monitor the conditions in the tropical Pacific that lead to the development of the El Niño, as well as the regional weather and haze situation, and provide updates if necessary.

8 In anticipation of the onset of drier weather, the Inter-Agency Haze Task Force (HTF) has already been activated and is co-ordinating their respective action plans in preparation for haze. Forecasts and advisories will take into account the new PSI system, as well as the revised Ministry of Health (MOH)’s health advisories and Ministry of Manpower (MOM)’s workplace guidelines. The public can access the latest issued advisories at the NEA website (www.nea.gov.sg), the haze microsite (www.haze.gov.sg), or follow NEA on NEA Facebook (www.facebook.com/NEASingapore) and NEA Twitter (@NEAsg).

9 Reservoir stock levels will be impacted by drier weather and lower rainfall. In response, PUB will have to ramp up its production of NEWater and desalinated water to maintain reservoir stock and ensure water availability. To prepare for the drier months ahead, PUB strongly urges the community and businesses to continue to conserve water, and play our part to stretch our water resources.

Read more!

Paint detected in drain, NEA to take legal action against firm

Channel NewsAsia 30 May 14;

SINGAPORE: The National Environment Agency (NEA) will take legal action against Rynamo Building Services for causing pollution of a waterway under the Environmental Protection and Management Act.

NEA said blue paint was detected in a drain at Clover Way on Thursday (May 29).

Investigations revealed that it came from a paint drum that had tipped over into the drain at Mayfair Industrial Building at No. 51 Jalan Pemimpin.

PUB contained the discharge within the drain which was cleared up on the same day.

NEA said water samples taken downstream of Clover Way on Thursday showed that there was no impact to the water quality.

- CNA/gn

Blue water in Bishan canal caused by spilled paint at Jalan Pemimpin factory
Stomp AsiaOne 30 May 14;


SINGAPORE - The Public Utilities Board (PUB) has found the cause of striking blue water in Bishan's canal yesterday, May 29, and has cleared up the drain.

Stomp contributor Pauline had spotted the bright artificial blue colour of the canal at Binchang Rise, and was concerned about what happened.

In response to the Stomp article "What caused this? Canal in Bishan turns into a shocking, artificial blue" dated May 29, PUB's checks have revealed that paint had tipped over into the drain at one of the factories at Jalan Pemimpin.

This is their reply in full:

"PUB detected a blue discharge in a drain at Clover Way at 5.30pm. PUB officers were mobilised to site immediately to investigate.

"Initial checks revealed that the discharge came from paint that had tipped over into the drain at one of the factories at Jalan Pemimpin.

"A tanker was mobilised to contain and clear up the discharge.

"By 8.20pm, we had cleared up the drain. Water samples have been collected for laboratory tests.

"PUB and NEA are investigating the incident.

"PUB would like to assure the public that it has a comprehensive monitoring system to monitor the quality of the raw water in our reservoirs and the raw water is treated at the waterworks to World Health Organisation drinking water quality guidelines before it is supplied to households."

Read more!