thaibutty Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Does anybody also feel that the air quality in Phuket has gone downhill over the last couple of years? I dont mean the haze from Indonesia a while back. I am talking about constant smog in the South of the island. I have been paying attention to it a lot and I cant remember the last really clear day. Everyday when I am driving my son to school on Chao Fa West I can see towards Phuket town and Khao Torsae, the one with the antennas, is always in a haze. On the way back all the Chalong hills are also always in a haze. Its a bit better early morning and worse in the afternoon.But never really clear. Everywhere where you can see a bit into the distance the air is rather hazy. Doesnt surprise me with all the traffic, hundreds of buses and the favorite local pastime of burning their leafs and garbage in their backyards Air quality index hasnt been updated in 6 month. http://aqicn.org/city/thailand/phuket/municipal-health-center-1/ I wonder why.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NamKangMan Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 With no proper public transport, everyone needs access to a vehicle on Phuket, hence, the traffic, noise pollution, air pollution, parking problems, accidents, injuries, and death here. Here's an old article, but even then the figures are quite large. http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Huge-increase-Phuket-vehicle-numbers/9381 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trd Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Haze can be caused by smoke particles or harmless water vapour. The air quality has been quite good this high season. Look for when the prevailing winds come from China. That's the worst. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Croc Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 (edited) Not saying there isn't a possibility of smog here, but it could just be haze (water vapour) from the ocean helped by the tropical high humidity and the westerly winds. When fishing, up to 20 miles out off Australia, you could tell when the sea breeze was coming and it was time to head in. Even on cloudless days you would see a dirty haze on the horizon. Edited March 23, 2017 by Old Croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Quote Does anybody also feel that the air quality in Phuket has gone downhill over the last couple of years? I don't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schlog Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Yup i do. For example the air quality between Patong and Maikhao is a big difference. Driving over Patong hill you can see the smog caused by cars, busses and cruise liners. This cruise liners are hell for good air. It is easy to feel the difference by a small test. How long can you stay in the sun without getting grilled? Maikhaw max 30min and in the south easy more than 1h. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibutty Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share Posted March 24, 2017 3 hours ago, schlog said: Yup i do. For example the air quality between Patong and Maikhao is a big difference. Driving over Patong hill you can see the smog caused by cars, busses and cruise liners. This cruise liners are hell for good air. It is easy to feel the difference by a small test. How long can you stay in the sun without getting grilled? Maikhaw max 30min and in the south easy more than 1h. I had that impression too that the air in the Northern part of the island is cleaner than in the South. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thaibutty Posted March 24, 2017 Author Share Posted March 24, 2017 11 hours ago, Old Croc said: Not saying there isn't a possibility of smog here, but it could just be haze (water vapour) from the ocean helped by the tropical high humidity and the westerly winds. I am quite sure that parts of the haze is vapour from the ocean and humidity. But I dont think it is the only cause. Of course, in the past there was always some kind of haze during this time of the year. But I still think that the visibility is less than 10 years ago. It seems more hazy. The Chalong hills are always in some kind of fog. Almost all year round. This wasnt the case 5 years ago. I can be wrong but I believe the explanation is more smog due to more cars, more busses, more cruiseships, more people burning their stuff. Not that I feel it but I dont think that the air is as clean as it used to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 I am quite sure that parts of the haze is vapour from the ocean and humidity. But I dont think it is the only cause. Of course, in the past there was always some kind of haze during this time of the year. But I still think that the visibility is less than 10 years ago. It seems more hazy. The Chalong hills are always in some kind of fog. Almost all year round. This wasnt the case 5 years ago. I can be wrong but I believe the explanation is more smog due to more cars, more busses, more cruiseships, more people burning their stuff. Not that I feel it but I dont think that the air is as clean as it used to be.Big Buddha is normally very clearly visible.sent using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exemplary21 Posted March 24, 2017 Share Posted March 24, 2017 Yes, it's because people drive their kids to school every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
williet98248 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 No opinion on the smog but I have noticed that at certain angles of the sun I can actually see the particulates in the air. Like fine snow coming down. No wonder my cleanly washed car gathers a layer of dust in a day or two. And I have to breathe this stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmax2 Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 No smoke from Indonesia this year, air quality is better than it has been in previous years for sure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trd Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 The Phuket monitoring station doesn't give AQI readings anymore it seems but when they were you could see a clear difference between seasons. The best quality air is during the monsoon season when the winds are coming from the south west across the Indian Ocean, but when they shift to the north east the air is coming from China bringing all it's heavy industrialised pollution with it. You could see that when you compared the AQI readings. That isn't to say that local pollution levels from cars haven't increased. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xylophone Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 On 3/25/2017 at 7:00 AM, williet98248 said: No opinion on the smog but I have noticed that at certain angles of the sun I can actually see the particulates in the air. Like fine snow coming down. No wonder my cleanly washed car gathers a layer of dust in a day or two. And I have to breathe this stuff. Yes I agree with that, and I don't know if it's because I have a sensitive nose or not, but I am certain that there is some sort of smoke in the air, because I can smell it and when I look into the hills from my apartment, which is fairly high up, I can see that grey/blue haze and I can assure you it's not water vapour haze, because my apartment is just near these trees and I get to smell this smoke all the time and it's bloody annoying. A couple of years ago I bought a Sharp air purifier and I've just had to change the filter (recommended every two years) and it was a light brown in colour, the same colour as the 3M filter I put in the air conditioner. In addition the Sharp air purifier has an ioniser and this also ensures particles in the air fall to the ground and like "williet98248" has said, I can actually see them. It has gotten so bad that I'm seriously considering moving somewhere else, because it can't be good for you and the constant smell is annoying and aggravating, not to mention unhealthy. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NamKangMan Posted March 28, 2017 Share Posted March 28, 2017 (edited) For anyone interested, next time you get your air conditioner serviced, have a look at what gets washed out of the filters. That's what you are breathing in here, everyday. Edited March 28, 2017 by NamKangMan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDave Posted March 29, 2017 Share Posted March 29, 2017 22 hours ago, xylophone said: Yes I agree with that, and I don't know if it's because I have a sensitive nose or not, but I am certain that there is some sort of smoke in the air, because I can smell it and when I look into the hills from my apartment, which is fairly high up, I can see that grey/blue haze and I can assure you it's not water vapour haze, because my apartment is just near these trees and I get to smell this smoke all the time and it's bloody annoying. <snip> Intermittently over the past few weeks, someone has been burning the hillside up above Soi 6, which has generated a lot of smoke and haze in the area. Also, just a few days ago, there was a massive burning in the area of Prab's resort on Hasip Pii with huge clouds of choke-inducing smoke. Like Chiangmai, the officials here don't seem to care about brush burning and air quality. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Croc Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 (edited) On 3/29/2017 at 8:59 AM, DrDave said: Intermittently over the past few weeks, someone has been burning the hillside up above Soi 6, which has generated a lot of smoke and haze in the area. Also, just a few days ago, there was a massive burning in the area of Prab's resort on Hasip Pii with huge clouds of choke-inducing smoke. Like Chiangmai, the officials here don't seem to care about brush burning and air quality. Probably making a start on Prabs, Pisona Group's latest project. http://www.phsproperty.com/project/patong-bay-seaview-cottages/ According to the blurb, 800 meters to the beach. On my map, twice that, as the crow flies. Edited March 30, 2017 by Old Croc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrDave Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 1 hour ago, Old Croc said: Probably making a start on Prabs, Pisona Group's latest project. http://www.phsproperty.com/project/patong-bay-seaview-cottages/ According to the blurb, 800 meters to the beach. On my map, twice that, as the crow flies. The burning was quite a bit lower on the hill - closer to the staff quarters just off Hasip Pii Rd. That link explains a lot of the new construction going on there, though. He's been building a steep road with switchbacks up the hill to where these cottages will be located. This is way, way, way above the 80 meter limit, so I'm guessing he's not going to be able to sell them. He's probably worked out some (dodgy) way to lease these structures built above the 80 meter height limit. The time a few years back when Daddy unsuccessfully attempted to get the authorities in Bangkok to repeal the 80 meter limit comes to mind. Doesn't seem to have stopped Junior, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NamKangMan Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 Or, the other question could be, what's right with the air on Phuket???? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xylophone Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 On 3/30/2017 at 3:17 PM, DrDave said: This is way, way, way above the 80 meter limit, so I'm guessing he's not going to be able to sell them. He's probably worked out some (dodgy) way to lease these structures built above the 80 meter height limit. Surely he shouldn't be able to BUILD them, let alone find a devious way to "sell/lease" them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Felt 35 Posted April 14, 2017 Share Posted April 14, 2017 Your not implying that there could be a reason to no update for 6 months on the web to http://aqicn.org/map/world/ over Phuket http://aqicn.org/city/thailand/phuket/municipal-health-center-1/ TAT probably have the answer.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xylophone Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 The smell of smoke/burning has returned to Patong and it started about a week ago, then noticed a newspaper article that burning had started in Aceh, Indonesia, and the peat fires were burning again........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimi007 Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 The smell of smoke/burning has returned to Patong and it started about a week ago, then noticed a newspaper article that burning had started in Aceh, Indonesia, and the peat fires were burning again...........No, hadn't noticed. It's been lovely on my end of the island. Nice ocean breeze and some rain showers. The wind is from the west, north west now so I rather doubt what ever it could be is not from Ban Ache. Plus it's monsoon season. The Indonesia smoke usually comes in late September and October from what I recall.Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xylophone Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 36 minutes ago, Jimi007 said: No, hadn't noticed. It's been lovely on my end of the island. Nice ocean breeze and some rain showers. The wind is from the west, north west now so I rather doubt what ever it could be is not from Ban Ache. Plus it's monsoon season. The Indonesia smoke usually comes in late September and October from what I recall. Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Lucky man Jimi007, because I can certainly smell it here and I can see it in the trees as it seems to hang in them. Not only that a few people in town today (Thais) commented on it. It would seem to be from Indonesia according to this. Now I'm not an expert on wind direction or whatever, however it would seem possible that a westerly would drag in some of the smoke from Aceh, but then again it's getting here somehow! July 27th 2017…………A state of emergency was earlier declared in West Aceh district, where fires on peatland expanded over 70 hectares within a week. https://www.nst.com.my/world/2017/07/261183/indonesian-forest-fires-5-provinces-declare-state-emergency Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimi007 Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 2 hours ago, xylophone said: Lucky man Jimi007, because I can certainly smell it here and I can see it in the trees as it seems to hang in them. Not only that a few people in town today (Thais) commented on it. It would seem to be from Indonesia according to this. Now I'm not an expert on wind direction or whatever, however it would seem possible that a westerly would drag in some of the smoke from Aceh, but then again it's getting here somehow! July 27th 2017…………A state of emergency was earlier declared in West Aceh district, where fires on peatland expanded over 70 hectares within a week. https://www.nst.com.my/world/2017/07/261183/indonesian-forest-fires-5-provinces-declare-state-emergency Don't know about that, but this is the haze and smog map from the Singapore Government. I can usually feel it in my lungs and eyes when those fires start. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xylophone Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 50 minutes ago, Jimi007 said: Don't know about that, but this is the haze and smog map from the Singapore Government. I can usually feel it in my lungs and eyes when those fires start. Feeling and smelling it here as are others, damn those buggers that are starting these fires. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyas Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 (edited) 6 hours ago, Jimi007 said: No, hadn't noticed. It's been lovely on my end of the island. Nice ocean breeze and some rain showers. The wind is from the west, north west now so I rather doubt what ever it could be is not from Ban Ache. Plus it's monsoon season. The Indonesia smoke usually comes in late September and October from what I recall. Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Interesting that you have west,northwest winds. Usually this time of year is from the south west . It's a monsoon climate all year round in Asia, ie, its always "a" monsoon season, not only now. The south west monsoon now and the northeast monsoon about oct-april. Edited August 3, 2017 by happyas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimi007 Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 5 minutes ago, happyas said: Interesting that you have west,northwest winds. Usually this time of year is from the south west . It's a monsoon climate all year round in Asia, not only now. The south west monsoon now and the northeast monsoon about oct-april. I actually have a compass. I just went outside and the wind is coming from about 300º at my house. But there are variables and micro climates around here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happyas Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 (edited) 36 minutes ago, Jimi007 said: I actually have a compass. I just went outside and the wind is coming from about 300º at my house. But there are variables and micro climates around here. I wasn't doubting your call on the wind direction, just that it is usual at this time of year to be from the SW. Many variables and Phukets well known geographical micro climates can ,for sure change the bigger picture. Edited August 3, 2017 by happyas 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimi007 Posted August 3, 2017 Share Posted August 3, 2017 (edited) 16 minutes ago, happyas said: I wasn't doubting your call on the wind direction, just that it is usual at this time of year to be from the SW. Many variables and Phukets well known geographical micro climates can ,for sure change the bigger picture. Okay, then try this link: http://aqicn.org/here/ Current air quality in Phuket. Edited August 3, 2017 by Jimi007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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