2009 Southeast Asian haze

The 2009 Southeast Asian haze was an episode of large scale air pollution primarily caused by slash and burn practices used to clear land for agricultural purposes in Sumatra, Indonesia. It affected the areas surrounding the Straits of Malacca which besides Indonesia include Malaysia and Singapore.

The haze began in early June 2009 and progressively became worse toward July. With a prevailing dry season caused by El Nino, burning and hence the haze was expected to continue until August or September when the monsoon season arrived.

Malaysia

Air Pollution Index

Daily average API readings in June 2009 DateGeorge TownKuala LumpurMalacca TownJohor BahruKuantanKuching1Unavailable57514165292407352464139331734738432743946313344355344445344135640404747432875876514039288306760544736928985656523110376758525345114069654548301235108635541281330804441465114206453514731152056404038371634514248492217446153424434185558493644391962514959424620686147414236

  0-50  Good  51-100 Moderate 101-200 Unhealthy 201-300 Very unhealthy 301- Hazardous

References

See also 2006 Southeast Asian haze 2013 Southeast Asian haze 2015 Southeast Asian haze ASEAN Agreement on Transboundary Haze Pollution