Peat fire risk assessment in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia using the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)

Abstract

Decreased ramfall and drought due to the long dry season affecting peat fires in Indonesia. This condition causes a decrease in the groundwater level and peat drought, bringing a dry conditions of peat that are suitable for fires. Our prolonged studies revealed a close relationship between precipitation, groundwater levels, and peat fires. This paper aims to assess the risk of peat fires by applying the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI). We used 18-year daily rainfall data (2000-2017), 16-year hotspot data (2002-2017), and 8-year groundwater level data (2010-2017). Ourresults showed the strong correlation (r = -0.61) between SPI-1 (short term) and the number of fires. The combination of low rainfall, the peat fire occurrences will increase significantly following less SPI-1 value and decreased groundwater levels during the peak of the dry season. A prolonged dry season followed by less rainfall in the normal rainy season will encourage high-intensity peat fires, bring the important of the using of drought patterns for a better risk assessment of future peat fire occurrences.