INGENIEUR
Figure 3 : Meso-scale condition of ( a ) biomass burning condition and hotspot ( black dots ) in Southeast Asia in Sept 2015 ; ( b ) PM 2 . 5 concentration in Taiwan on 13 Jan 2017 ( adapted from Chuang et al .,
2019 ).
is going to sink by 2050 . Hence it is scheduled to be relocated to East Kalimantan in five years [ 24 ]. The decision is worrying a lot of environmentalists as it will involve cutting down pristine forest areas and destroying biodiversity .
Urban haze is one of the biggest air pollution issues in Jakarta . Therefore it is very likely for the new capital to experience very bad pollution levels , even if we disregard the active fire burnings on the Borneo island as seen in Figure 3 ( a ).
In Malaysia , the Greater Kuala Lumpur conurbation is well sheltered between the Titiwangsa mountain range and the Central Range on Sumatra island . The dispersion of the air mass is constrained by geographical features and the prolonged effect of transboundary biomass burning haze from Sumatra [ 25 ]. Such a situation has also occurred in Taiwan . The heavily industrialised cluster where most coal power plants are located at the central west side of the island ( Tainan and Kaoshiung ), leeward of the prevailing northeast wind as shown in Figure 3 ( b ). It is difficult for the polluted air mass in the region to disperse with the strong northeast wind and it continues to accumulate in the turbulent wake . It is even possible to be carried to the congested urban area , Taipei city , in northern Taiwan , under weak northeast wind
Kuala Lumpur , Malaysia : September 19 2019 : Malaysia looks to clouds , as smoke haze shrouds Kuala Lumpur as the result of forest burning in Indonesia .
10 VOL 91 JULY-SEPTEMBER 2022