STOP FREE BURNING!: October 2011

Analysis of Open Burning Data, Surveillance & Prevention of Open Burning - A Case Study of Chiang-Rai Province, Thailand.

Abstract

This study aims to analyze trends of aerosol optical thickness (AOT) acquired from Terra / Aqua MODIS and PM10 concentration from 12 PCD air quality ground measurement stations in the period 2007 – 2010, and find their relationship to generate estimated PM10 concentration maps for Upper Northern Thailand during the period 2007-2010 based on obtained relationships, as well as to study the situation of hotspots in March from the years 2007-2010 in Chiang Rai province, where it was found most patients were affected by the haze in the year 2007. The results showed that the trends of AOT and PM10 go together in similar direction. The equation for the relationship between AOT and PM10 between year 2007-2011, from February to March, is Y = 57.09 +70.93 (R = 0.32). Moreover, it also found the rate of fire (Hotspots) of Chiang Rai occurs 55% in forested areas, 40% in agricultural areas, 2% in community area and 3% in other areas. After checking, it was found that burning areas were mostly found in forest areas and caused from the invasion of agriculture, such as rice and corn fields. Farmers tend to clear areas and eliminate weeds to prepare for planting the next season by burning. During burning, there often is a lack of space and fire protection in these areas, resulting in the spreading of fire. For agricultural land, farmer continue burning straw after harvest, because it is easy and saves time. Therefore, to solve the pollution problem as a result of burning, stakeholders in all sectors should seriously work together, offer an alternative and transfer knowledge to farmers to reduce burning.

Introduction

Due to the smoke and haze condition covering the upper northern areas of Thailand, it has had a direct impact on air-quality in many areas, including: Chiang-Mai, Chiang-Rai, Mae Hong Son, Lampang, Lumpoon, Prae and Phayao. This impact affects people’s health. The major reasons are from forest fires, open burning and pollution from vehicles (Monkol, 2010). Jiamjai Kruesuwan, a Thai researcher, found that 50-70% of dust originates from forest fires, the burning of agricultural lands, diesel fumes, and the rest at 10%, originate from other sources (Monkol Rayanakorn, 2010). Moreover, it was found that some of the areas affected by air-pollution were caused by forest fires from neighboring countries. (Kasemsan et al, 2010 ; Ketsiri, 2010). Forest fire and open burning make an impact on air pollution which causes smoke, hazy conditions and dust - Particularly in the atmosphere. The amount of dust with diameter less than than 10 microns (micrometers) in diameter, or PM 10, and this amount of dusting condition, causes discomfort, allergies, or respiratory ailments. In addition, it also affects the business sector as well. Raewadee Rungrattanapong and Areeya Manasboon (Mongkol Rayanakorn, 2010) found that tourist have decreased during pollution and smog crisis in Chiang Mai, which leads to economic damage in that area and all over the country. This was the original idea of the project, which aims to study air quality in the upper northern most parts of Thailand, with correlation between, AOT , PM10 and from all 12 measurement stations. And, to analyze hotspots in district levels in Chiang-Rai province, during the month of March since year 2008-2011, in order to understand the situation of open burning at the local level. The result of this research will be an important tool for policy planning related to the reduction of open burning.

Objectives of the study

The objectives of the study are listed below:

To analyze the trend of Aerosol Optical Thickness (AOT) acquired from Terra/Aqua MODIS and PM10 concentration from 12 PCD air quality ground measurement stations in the period of 2007 – 2010 and find out their relationship.
To generate estimated PM₁₀ Concentration maps for Upper Northern Thailand during the period of 2007-2010 based on the obtained relationship.
To study the cause of hotspots in Chiang-Rai Province

Scope of the Study

The study focuses on Upper Northern Thailand, which as our study area, it is observed that smoke and haze problems occur in the dry season of each year, mainly from February to April, when the level of PM₁₀ concentration raises up due to forest fires and biomass burning related to agricultural activities. In this study, we use a MODIS aerosol optical thickness product (MOD04/MYD04) which has a spatial resolution of 10x10 km² and PM₁₀ concentration from 12 PCD air quality measurement stations located in many provinces of the study area . Since the main purpose of the study is to study the relationship between MODIS, AOT and PCD PM₁₀ concentration distribution, other atmospheric or meteorological parameters, such as, air temperature, air humidity, wind speed and direction are not considered in this study. Besides, we also study the rate of hotspots in each sub-district of Chiangr-Rai, during the month of March, from year 2007-2010.

Data was collected from related organization as follows;
1. Data base of hotspots, or active fire from satellite, MODIS Fire Information online systems of Geoinformatics Center (GIC) of the Asian Institute of technology, since 2007-2011.
2. Reports on forest fires in Chiang-Rai province, since year 2007-2011 from office no 15.
3. Land use data from the Chiang-Rai Land Office.
4. Other related data such as elevation data, roads and main roads in Chiang-Rai province, Protection Areas, Forest Cover Types, Administrative Boundaries and harvest calendar.
Analysis on open burning situations by using Geographic Information Systems

Results and Comments

The result of the study showed that the rate of hot spots at 55% were found in forest areas, 44% in agriculture land areas, 2 % in community areas and 3 % (figure 1) in other areas. The burning season starts from December, however, most open burning was found in the month of March. Mae Suay District has the most burning areas, followed by Wieng Pa Pao District and Muang District. In addition, Wawee District was found to be the most repeatable burning area - From inspections during field-trips at specific areas where open burning was mostly found, most of the land were used for farming corn and rice during December to March of every year since this time is considered harvest season. And, the time when farmers also start preparing areas for planting crops for the next round. However, farmers tend to clear the land area by burning. Wawee District was found burning the most due to the switching of planting crops from corn to coffee. Moreover, it also found that Chiang-Rai province is also facing a multinational environment, with smoke and haze from neighboring countries as well.

Conclusion

From the study, it was found that open burning in Chiang-Rai starts from December in each year, and to the month of March. The hotspot areas, mostly from forest and followed by argricultural land. Farmer tended to burn weeds from the cultivated area to prepare for the next year. Unfortunately, the way of burning still lacks control, and results in fire speading. Thefore, to solve the open buring problem in Chiang-Rai province, it requires the interaction of all relevant agencies for a concrete unified solution.

Reference

[1] มงคล รายะนาคร. (2010). หมอกควันและมลพิษทางอากาศในจังหวัดเชียงใหม่. เชียงใหม่ : ล๊อคดินพีไซน์เวิร์ด.

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Analysis of Open Burning Data, Surveillance & Prevention of Open Burning - A Case Study of Chiang-Rai Province, Thailand.

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