Smoke, Smog, Dust 2015 Chiang Mai

[Tywais]

New 2015 topic for fire & smoke conditions in Chiang Mai.

Members can report the conditions in their area and updates of the pollution numbers (PCD) and questions in this topic. Also published news updates regarding local conditions.

aqmthai.com Air Quality Index

Regional Daily Air Quality Data

Air Quality Standards Thailand

Smoke, Smog, Dust 2014 Chiang Mai for reference.

[Tywais]

Fire Map - automatically updates every 8 hours from remote link.

[MESmith]

Been a good year, so far....

[orang37]

A friend wants to spend a few months in northern Thailand beginning in mid-January; and, yes, I have warned them about the air pollution levels.

This is probably a silly question but is there somewhere within Lanna (say within the same commute time as from here to Mae Sai) that would be both relatively pollution free and have high-speed internet access.

Ready your particle-filters, your ionizing air-cleaners ... set ... choke.

Thanks !

~o:37;

[MESmith]

The problem in the cold season is we get an inversion layer at night which prevents the smoke pollution & car exhaust pollution escaping to higher levels at night. I was out & about this morning at about 7.30. Sunrise over the eastern hills was nice yellow sun (clean air). In the middle of the CM valley where I live, everything seemed fine. closer to the eastern hills, air quality was poor & visibility less than 1 km. Then as I traveled up to the edge of the valley, and got just a little bit higher (canal road running south towards Lamphun), the air was much clearer. Sadly, many fires were observed on my outing

[T_Dog]

Just saw the first two forest burns of the season up in the mountains here near Mae Taeng. Fortunately it looks like we have good winds for the next few days to carry it away.

[puukao]

http://aqicn.org/map/

I've found this map to be nice to look at.....of course I have no idea how accurate.

It was only a few days ago you see 999 (maybe the max reading) all over Beijing...

I hope you all enjoy.

[siam2007]

The problem in the cold season is we get an inversion layer at night which prevents the smoke pollution & car exhaust pollution escaping to higher levels at night. I was out & about this morning at about 7.30. Sunrise over the eastern hills was nice yellow sun (clean air). In the middle of the CM valley where I live, everything seemed fine. closer to the eastern hills, air quality was poor & visibility less than 1 km. Then as I traveled up to the edge of the valley, and got just a little bit higher (canal road running south towards Lamphun), the air was much clearer. Sadly, many fires were observed on my outing

that's the problem !!! As long as they don't get serious fighting those fires, the problem will exist every year

[T_Dog]

The locals are out in full force tonight lighting fires up in the mountains north of Chiang Mai to spur mushroom growth. Luckily good wind flow and wet weather on the way.

[Greenside]

Baan & Beyond has a good stock of 3M Filtrate for use in your aircon units. Turn left at the checkouts and walk past the tools and car sections until you see the traffic cones. Fitrate on end cap just behind them.

[Tywais]

A snapshot of today of post #2 map for future reference as we may not see many more like this where all the fires north are pretty much gone.

[Mapguy]

Baan & Beyond has a good stock of 3M Filtrate for use in your aircon units. Turn left at the checkouts and walk past the tools and car sections until you see the traffic cones. Fitrate on end cap just behind them.

So does Central in Kad Suan Kaew in the hardware section.

[jonwilly]

Beautiful and clear, I can se the Doi Suket range from my place on lower hills of Doi Suthep. The rain and wind have done us proud.

I obtained a fine Air Filter 'Paper' called Mr Smart from Rimping Airport Plaza.

john

[MESmith]

Beautiful and clear, I can se the Doi Suket range from my place on lower hills of Doi Suthep. The rain and wind have done us proud.

I obtained a fine Air Filter 'Paper' called Mr Smart from Rimping Airport Plaza.

john

I could see Doi Chang Dao & Doi Inthanon this morning from my truck near San Kamphaeng. The cliffs of Inthanon to the north of the summit were very clear. Beautiful day

[puukao]

does anyone remember if the pollution is generally better or worse in April versus March? I'm heading back, and might just try to avoid March altogether, but my memory from a few years ago and a few years before then is slipping....tks

[Guest siamjourney]

http://aqicn.org/city/thailand/chiangmai/city-hall/

Is this the most accurate report? Looks uglier a bit earlier this year. The rain helped recently but I wouldn't expect any more until April. Old city is already at 101 on PM10.

[junglechef]

http://aqicn.org/city/thailand/chiangmai/city-hall/

Is this the most accurate report? Looks uglier a bit earlier this year. The rain helped recently but I wouldn't expect any more until April. Old city is already at 101 on PM10.

Nice sight. I also am on the accuracy as it say AQI 66 moderate for now Feb 1 at 8 am and here in San Sai it seems bad affecting everyone in my household in San Sai.

Another sight I use on my laptop and have a Iphone App for is:

http://air4thai.pcd.go.th/web/index.php

[MESmith]

Air quality took a nose dive yesterday. Just from my personal observations out & about on my bicycle. Higher up on the hills, nice & clear air.

[whiterussian]

Air quality took a nose dive yesterday. Just from my personal observations out & about on my bicycle. Higher up on the hills, nice & clear air.

Could smell THAT smell too

[Mickeem]

Air quality took a nose dive yesterday. Just from my personal observations out & about on my bicycle. Higher up on the hills, nice & clear air.

Could smell THAT smell too

Yes I can also smell the burning for the last 2 days - started early for some reason maybe the mushroom picking pyromaniacs

[PHP87]

Will this nonsense ever stop?

[rabid old goat]

i have http://air4thai.pcd.go.th/web/ bookmarked but on checking it a few times in the past, i think there is quite a deal of thainess involved in its production

[jonwilly]

Looking out from my condo foothills of Doi Suthep, I can only see about halfway across the old city the smog/clag is starting.

On a good day I can see the Hills of Doi Saket, looks like another seaside trip in a few weeks.

john

Edited February 2, 2015 by jonwilly

[masuk]

A snapshot of today of post #2 map for future reference as we may not see many more like this where all the fires north are pretty much gone.

Capture.JPG

With those hundreds of fires burning around us, it's little wonder that Chiang Mai is covered in smoke.

Does anyone actually check the air quality?

Here's a photo from this morning, looking SE towards the Ping river.

[naboo]

Can someone point me in the direction of the shop on Wualai Road that sells filters for air-con units? 3M shop or something, just been down it on Google Maps and can't find it.

edit: Found it.

info here

Google coordinates 18.777394, 98.983391

Edited February 9, 2015 by naboo

[CMBob]

Picked up an app (Asia Air Quality) which supposedly shows the air quality at many places in the area - there are two locations for Chiang Mai, the City Hall and the Ypparaj Wittayalai School.

Currently shows a 70 level and "moderate" pollution.

I always thought (not really knowing) that a lot of the air problem around here was due to smoke floating over from Burma. But notice that the lowest reading in the area is Mae Hong Son....a 50....so that (for the moment) seems to dispel that notion.

[masuk]

The last satellite map I saw of the fires were almost none in Burma - they were all to the East of Thailand.

[Awk]

Picked up an app (Asia Air Quality) which supposedly shows the air quality at many places in the area - there are two locations for Chiang Mai, the City Hall and the Ypparaj Wittayalai School.

Currently shows a 70 level and "moderate" pollution.

I always thought (not really knowing) that a lot of the air problem around here was due to smoke floating over from Burma. But notice that the lowest reading in the area is Mae Hong Son....a 50....so that (for the moment) seems to dispel that notion.

I don't think any of the people who, whenever the topic comes up, tell us how most of the pollution present in Chiang Mai during this period is produced elsewhere, really know either. But since when has that stopped anyone from posting unfounded statements on ThaiVisa?

[junglechef]

Picked up an app (Asia Air Quality) which supposedly shows the air quality at many places in the area - there are two locations for Chiang Mai, the City Hall and the Ypparaj Wittayalai School.

Currently shows a 70 level and "moderate" pollution.

I always thought (not really knowing) that a lot of the air problem around here was due to smoke floating over from Burma. But notice that the lowest reading in the area is Mae Hong Son....a 50....so that (for the moment) seems to dispel that notion.

I've found that it's human nature to blame others for one's own problems and the Thais sometimes act super human

Using the "AIR4THAI" app that I previously mentioned it today shows the highest reading of the year with an AQI of 80 and PM10 of 87 closing in on the "Unhealthy" level which I believe starts at 100.

What I found is interesting that Doi Suthep was an AQI of 11 which was the lowest in all of Thailand (they don't show for everywhere incl. the islands) and the worst was an AQI of 11 in Saraburi.

[chiang mai]

The last satellite map I saw of the fires were almost none in Burma - they were all to the East of Thailand.

I like to use NASA's Firms for its real time view:

https://firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/firemap/

The picture does look pretty good at present, both Myanmar and Thailand seem fairly subdued, I wonder why.

EDIT: Cambodia looks busy, I suspect that's affecting Pattaya?

Edited February 10, 2015 by chiang mai