News and information about air pollution in Northern Thailand

Chiang Mai burning season refers back to the time of 12 months when the air in Northern Thailand is crammed with haze from forest fires and the burning of crop waste. Though it is a downside throughout Northern Thailand, Chiang Mai has turn into the main target of the air pollution disaster. Town has made worldwide headlines for being essentially the most polluted metropolis on this planet.

The fires are from when farmers burn the stubble in harvested rice fields. There are additionally fires from slash-and-burn farming, the place new agricultural land is cleared from forest and bushland. Fires are additionally being lit in forests to clear forest litter to reap mushrooms.

The fires are in Northern Thailand, in addition to Laos and Myanmar. Agricultural fires are additionally a giant problem in Central Thailand with sugarcane burning. This is likely one of the sources of Bangkok’s air pollution disaster, and a contributing issue to transboundary haze.

The air air pollution has turn into such a widely known problem that it’s now affecting tourism to the area. In what ought to be a affluent time of 12 months for the tourism business, vacationers at the moment are staying away and people that may go away migrate for the burning season.

When is the Chiang Mai burning season?

The burning season sometimes happens within the latter half of the dry season from February to April. There is no such thing as a set dates, and varies in its severity from year-to-year.

The influence of haze on well being

One of the vital regarding results of the haze disaster is its influence on public well being. The smoke from burning vegetation releases dangerous pollution and particulate matter into the air, resulting in respiratory points and exacerbating pre-existing circumstances.

The haze can set off allergy symptoms, respiratory infections, and different well being issues, significantly for susceptible populations equivalent to youngsters and the aged. Hospitals document a rise of inpatients which might be being admitted for respiration difficulties.

Tourism and economic system

Chiang Mai’s economic system depends closely on tourism, and the annual haze poses a menace to the way forward for this important sector. The harmful, persistent smog deters vacationers from visiting the area, affecting native companies, hospitality industries, and the livelihoods of these depending on tourism.

The burning season has turn into so well-known that vacationers now know to keep away from Chiang Mai within the burning season.

Efforts to handle the problem

provincial and nationwide authorities, together with environmental organisations, have been engaged on lowering the annual haze downside. Initiatives embrace selling sustainable farming practices, implementing stricter rules on burning, and investing in different land-clearing strategies.

Moreover, public consciousness campaigns intention to coach each farmers and the overall inhabitants in regards to the long-term penalties of open fires.

The way to measure air high quality

An air quality index (AQI) is an indicator of air air pollution proven on a scale from 0 to 500. There are variations in measurement system between totally different nations, however the next scale is essentially the most used:

0 – 50: Good (Inexperienced)
51 – 100 Reasonable (Yellow)
101 – 150 Unhealthy for Delicate Teams (Orange)
151 – 200 Unhealthy (Pink)
201 – 300 Very Unhealthy (Purple)
301 and better Hazardous (Maroon)

Two of the most well-liked websites that measure air high quality are IQAir and the World Air High quality Index challenge (aqicn.org). They generally present totally different outcomes, relying on web site updates and what stations they’re getting knowledge from. One would possibly present 120 whereas the opposite reveals 130. Both approach, the air is unhealthy. They each give a common concept of the air high quality in actual time.

[AQI display at Ombra Caffe detecting unhealthy air in Chiang Mai.]

In case you are dwelling in Chiang Mai the quickest technique to examine the air high quality is to see how seen Doi Suthep is. On a transparent day the inexperienced contours of the mountain are seen.

[Doi Suthep as viewed from Huay Kaew Rd and Nimmanhaemin Rd.]

As the times get hazier the mountain turns into a monotoned form behind the smoke.

[Hazy sunset in Chiang Mai.]

On the worst days the mountain utterly disappears from view.

[Doi Suthep shrouded in smoke, as viewed from Huay Kaew Rd and Nimmanhaemin Rd.]

Chiang Mai burning season information

Yearly there’s a lot handwringing from native and nationwide politicians with guarantees to discover a answer, but we learn the identical headlines yearly.

This part is an archive of reports in regards to the Chiang Mai burning season over time. The articles present how some years are extra apocalyptic than others, and it consists of when bulletins have been made to try to addreess the burning problem of the smoky season.

2025

Chiang Mai ranks as the most polluted city in the world, authorities declare crisis – [17/03/25]

NASA confirms PM2.5 dust in Northern Thailand is caused by burning – [03/02/25]“After finishing the air high quality monitoring and knowledge assortment underneath the ASIA-AQ challenge in March final 12 months, the Thai group, led by GISTDA and varied companies, has continued its analysis on the info and contributing components in collaboration with NASA.”

2024

Chiang Mai’s atmosphere the worlds most polluted today – IQAir – [15/03/24]“In keeping with the IQAir web site, the AQI studying in Chiang Mai is 200, adopted by Tashkent in Uzbekistan at 193, 154 in Lahore in Pakistan, 160 in Beijing, 157 in Wuhan, 155 in Yangon, 154 in New Delhi, 154 in Dubai, 153 in Hold Zhou and 151 in Calcutta.”

Flame game foiled: Chiang Mai crackdown scorches forest arsonist – [14/03/24]“Chiang Mai authorities have taken swift motion towards forest arson, ensuing within the arrest and fining of a perpetrator following a tip-off from a vigilant citizen. Yesterday, March 13, a person was noticed igniting a hearth throughout the protected forest space of Ban Pang Keut, Mae Taeng district in Chiang Mai. The deputy governor personally delivered a money reward to the informant whose alert led to the apprehension.”

Chiang Mai sets B10,000 reward for reporting forest burners – [10/03/24]

Chiang Mai residents warned to avoid outdoor activities and wear PM2.5 protective gear – [08/03/24]“Chiang Mai continues to expertise forest fires, with 328 hotspots detected all through Wednesday (March 6) whereas at 7 p.m., it ranked because the world’s worst air high quality, based on the IQAir web site.”

Firefighters struggling to contain wildfires in Chiang Mai – [04/03/24]“…nationwide park officers continued to fight what seemed to be endless forest fires in Chiang Mai’s decrease districts, blaming native villagers for setting fires as a result of they mistakenly believed they had been helpful to vegetation.”

PM2.5 air quality to worsen in Northern Thailand as 69 wildfires burn in Chiang Mai – [26/02/24]

Huge forest areas destroyed by raging fires in Chiang Mai – [25/02/24]“Officers blamed torching by native villagers on the lookout for edible meals and spillovers from burning of farm leftovers for the fires.”

Chiang Mai residents win air pollution lawsuit – [22/01/24]“The Chiang Mai Administrative Court docket dominated on Friday (19 January) that the Prime Minister and the Nationwide Surroundings Board should full a administration plan to handle native air air pollution points in 90 days.”

Chiang Mai governor orders tight measures against burning of farm waste – [10/01/24]“Chiang Mai governor has instructed chiefs of the province’s 25 districts to accentuate measures towards the burning of agricultural residue in a bid to cut back PM2.5 air pollution.”

2023

PM eyes tourism-crimping haze – [30/11/23]“Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin on Wednesday voiced concern over the influence of PM2.5 air pollution on Chiang Mai’s tourism business throughout the excessive season and pledged to carry talks with neighbouring nations to fight haze and smog air pollution.”

Chiang Mai seeks solution to smog – [07/11/23]“Because the smog season attracts nearer, Chiang Mai tourism operators are urging the federal government to speed up the passage of the Clear Air Act and implement different mechanisms to cut back air pollution from the agricultural sector.”

How Chiang Mai became the world’s most polluted city – [12/04/23]“Burning fields are blamed for hazardous ranges of air air pollution in northern Thailand however the authorities is doing little to behave.”

Pollution choking Thailand’s north hits tourism, worries public – [10/04/23]

As hazardous haze envelops Thailand, residents seek refuge – [13/03/23]“Chiang Mai was rated as essentially the most closely polluted metropolis on this planet, exceeding the likes of Delhi, Lahore and Dhaka on air high quality monitor IQAir’s real-time index of 100 main centres across the globe.”

Chiang Mai to hand out face masks as dust from fires hits hazardous levels – [08/03/23]“Thai authorities wrestle to include forest fires, a persistent reason behind air air pollution throughout the dry season.”

It’s pollution season again – [30/01/23]“Chiang Mai has had 5 knowledge factors report air pollution ranges at increased than 200 migrograms per cubic metre, with the Mae Chaem knowledge centre reporting numbers as excessive as 284.”

2022

For fire-ravaged northern Thailand, there’s now an app to battle the blaze – [28/02/22]

‘Burning season’ ignites with 4k fires – [02/02/22]“Greater than 4,000 so-called hotspots brought on by slash-and-burn actions have been detected throughout the North because the “burning season” begins.”

2021

New data exposes Thailand’s 2021 “burning season” – [17/05/21]“For a couple of months every year, Chiang Mai, northern Thailand’s tourist-friendly cultural hotspot, ranks among the many world’s most polluted cities. Chiang Mai’s air air pollution is essentially attributable to agricultural burning slightly than fossil-fuel-related combustion skilled in different international cities.”

Feeding the beast: Chiang Mai smoke seen as world’s climate change problem -[22/04/21]“From Chiang Mai air air pollution to international local weather change, animal agriculture is the elephant within the room — and biochar one technique to tame it.”

Bangkok fiddles whilst Chiang Mai burns – who’s behind the annual smoke season? – [21/03/21]

Holding those behind the haze to account – [21/03/21]“Chiang Mai spent a number of days this month as essentially the most polluted metropolis on the planet, with PM2.5 ranges reaching 226 microgrammes per cubic meter (μg/m³) there. The predictability of the annual surge in air pollution and the dearth of efficient preventative motion have angered metropolis residents and anxious civil society teams.”

[Composite showing Chiang Mai city as seen from Doi Suthep on March 5 and March 10 2021, when the PM2.5 level was 70.9 and 114.4 respectively. (Photo: Gary Boyle).]

Chiang Mai among world’s most polluted cities as forest fires rage in northern Thailand – [11/03/21]“In keeping with AQI readings by the Air pollution Management Division, 5 northern provinces recorded unhealthy to hazardous ranges of air high quality on Thursday (Mar 11). These provinces embrace Mae Hong Son (350), Chiang Mai (248), Chiang Rai (291), Tak (219) and Lamphun (213).”

Air pollution in Chiang Mai sends 30,000 to hospital – [10/03/21]“Chiang Mai well being officers say past 31,000 folks have sought medical therapy for respiratory points.”

2020

Chiang Mai smog casts pall over businesses – [03/04/20]“Thailand’s northern area has been hit with poisonous ranges of air air pollution because of forest fires on Wednesday, particularly within the Chiang Mai province, with some areas being engulfed in air high quality ranges 12 occasions above protected ranges.”

Man charged with burning forest in Chiang Mai – [10/04/20]“Police arrested a suspected arsonist in Doi Inthanon Nationwide Park in Chiang Mai province on Thursday (April 9), as a part of a clampdown on forest-burning that has seen air air pollution spike within the northern area.”

Air quality in North still ‘critical’ – [30/03/20]“Air air pollution throughout the higher North stays at crucial ranges with authorities monitoring virtually 400 energetic hotspots in Chiang Mai alone on Sunday. The air high quality didn’t enhance on Monday morning, with IQAir recording “very unhealthy” air high quality and unsafe, ultra-fine PM2.5 mud ranges at 170.1 microgrammes per cubic metre (μg/m³) at 10.30am within the so-called “Rose of the North”.”

Strict no-burn zone measures to be implemented in North – [06/02/20]“The Division of Catastrophe Prevention and Mitigation is coordinating with administration officers within the North and associated companies to make sure regulation enforcement places out forest fires and tackles the extreme air air pollution.”

2019

Thailand’s famed ‘Rose of the North’ is wilting – [23/06/19]“Historic Chiang Mai is affected by over-development and air pollution.”

Unhealthy smoke over Thailand – [12/04/19]“For greater than a month, northern Thailand has been experiencing unhealthy, elevated ranges of smoke and air air pollution. The thick haze is a results of wildfires and prescribed burning by farmers clearing their land for the planting season. Meteorologists count on the unhealthy air high quality to final into Could.”

[NASA Earth Observatory image shows smoke and haze blanketing portions of southeastern Asia on April 12, 2019,]

On the front line with the Chiang Mai firefighters battling the flames behind the world’s worst air – [06/04/19]

Chiang Mai braces for watered-down Songkran as city chokes in smog – [05/04/19]“Chiang Mai’s journey commerce is bracing for muted Songkran celebrations because the smog disaster is prone to put a dent on customer arrivals to the northern metropolis and the encompassing provinces for the upcoming Thai New 12 months.”

Thai leader orders action to fight pollution in Chiang Mai – [04/04/19]

Thai junta chief demands action to cut smog – [02/04/19]

Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai suffer haze and smoke until at least May – [01/04/19]

Chiang Mai residents up in arms over choking smog amid government inaction – [01/04/19]“Native authorities’ incapability to take care of the extreme downside – the results of a spreading forest fireplace – with any sense of promptness has already led to a marketing campaign to take away Chiang Mai Governor Supachai Iamsuwan from workplace.”

Thailand urged to declare emergency in Chiang Mai as air pollution hits ‘disastrous’ levels – [30/03/19]“An instructional has known as on the federal government to declare a state of emergency in Chiang Mai and most of Thailand’s northern provinces over ‘disastrous’ ranges of smog.”

Northern Thailand was once a paradise. Now forest fires have made the air worse than Beijing’s. – [07/03/19]“In mid-March, town with the worst air air pollution on this planet wasn’t an industrial powerhouse populated by hundreds of thousands. It was Chiang Mai, the tourist-friendly cultural heart in northern Thailand.”

Chiang Mai tops world pollution charts – [12/03/19]

Chiang Mai air pollution worst in the world – [13/03/19]“The air high quality index (AQI) in Chiang Mai as of 4pm Tuesday stood at 230, in contrast with 170 within the Bangladesh capital Dhaka and 164 in Kabul, Afghanistan, based on Air Visible, an app that displays air high quality.”

2018

We’re No. 1? Chiang Mai air pollution smashes competitors – [12/04/18]“The “Rose of the North” gained world recognition Wednesday for the doubtful distinction of getting the worst recorded air high quality throughout peak circumstances.”

Explaining Chiang Mai’s smoke pollution with real data – [01/04/18]“An interview with Craig Houston, an aeronautical engineer and Chiang Mai resident who has been gathering and analysing date associated to the air pollution disaster.”

Chiang Mai ranked sixth worst for air pollution globally – [18/03/18]“Air air pollution within the North continues to be crucial, with small mud particles of two.5 microns in dimension (PM2.5) exceeding protected limits at virtually each air-quality testing station.”

2017

Chiang Mai has worst small particle pollution in Thailand: Greenpeace – [18/05/17]“Chiang Mai is Thailand’s most-polluted metropolis when it comes to dangerously small pollution which kill tens of 1000’s in Thailand yearly”.

2016

Thailand: Air quality levels in Chiang Mai reaches unhealthy levels – [19/04/16]“The air high quality in northern Thailand, significantly Chiang Mai, has reached unhealthy ranges, with the Air High quality Index (AQI) on the time of publishing registering at 113, which is taken into account unhealthy for delicate teams.”

Smog causing health woes for thousands in Chiang Mai – [18/04/16]“Hundreds of individuals in Chiang Mai have developed signs that may be linked to air air pollution this month.”

2015

Amid northern haze, a burning desire for wealth – [29/03/15]“Because the seasonal smoke worsens, the forest fires brought on by a profitable mushroom commerce and different foragers are solely exaggerating the issue.”

Smog shrouds northern Thailand as air pollution hits unhealthy levels – [03/03/15]“Northern Thailand was shrouded in smog as air air pollution hit unhealthy ranges in some areas, because of uncontrolled burning and wild fires.”

2014

Transboundary pollution in Northern Thailand causes dangerous levels of smog – [26/03/14]“Chiang Mai, the biggest metropolis within the North and second-largest within the nation, introduced this 12 months’s first day of “unsafe” air high quality on March 11. Ranges of PM10 (particulate matter of lower than 10 microns) rose above the Thai authorities’s threshold of 120 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3). Neighboring provinces have since reported equally hazardous measurements. By comparability, PM10 in Bangkok has hovered between 40 and 50 throughout this identical interval.”

Chiang Mai air quality health threat – [14/03/14]“Air high quality measurements in Chiang Mai have registered above the ‘wholesome’ spectrum for 3 consecutive days.”

2012

[Stop Burning – April 2012.]

Haze spreads across north: Thailand – [27/02/12]

Hyperlinks and assets

Causes and solution of forest and agricultural burning in Northern, Thailand [PDF]Worldwide Journal of Agricultural Know-how 2022Vol. 18(4):1715-1726

Seasonal Patterns and Trends of Air Pollution in the Upper Northern Thailand from 2004 to 2018
Quantity 22, Problem 5, Could 2022.