Analysis of carbon monoxide (CO) distribution in Pekanbaru City and its surroundings due to forest fires

Abstract

One of the pollutants produced from forest fire is carbon monoxide (CO). The resulting CO pollutants can interfere with human health and even lead to death. In Riau Province, high forest fire was occurred in 2015, while low forest fire was occurred in 2017. An indicator that can be seen as a determinant of high or low forest fires is hotspots. The research was conducted with the aim of comparing the distribution of CO pollutants in 2015 and 2017, as well as find out the correlation between the number of hotspots and the CO concentration. The data used was obtained from the Giovanni website and FIRMS MODAPS NASA. The results showed there was a significant difference in the distribution of CO concentration in 2015 and 2017. In 2015, CO concentrations were higher than 2017. The highest value of CO concentration in 2015 was 226.949 g/m3 while the highest CO concentration value in 2017 was 109.966 g/m3. The relationship between the number of hotspots and the CO concentration values in 2015 and 2017 in Pekanbaru City and its surroundings are -0.585 and -0.602, respectively. The CO concentration in Pekanbaru is affected by surrounding area and the number of vehicles.