Numerical study of the transport and convective mechanisms of biomass burning haze in South-Southeast Asia

Abstract

This study aims to identify the vertical transport mechanisms that uplifted the forest fire emissions from Sumatra to the upper troposphere during the June 2013 haze crisis. WRF-Chem is used to simulate the formation and transport of biomass-burning haze during the study period of 18th to 26th June 2013. The South-Southeast Asian synoptic weather patterns and their effects on the transport of biomass-burning emissions from Sumatra to Peninsular Malaysia were studied computationally to explain the phenomenon. Results show that PM10 emissions were lifted to 200 hPa height (approximately 12 km) over the Strait of Malacca on 24th June. The two identified vertical transport mechanisms confirmed a previously conjectured convergence over the Strait of Malacca and orographic lifting over Peninsular Malaysia. These mechanisms were able to uplift the biomass-burning emissions to the upper troposphere and this could have significant long-range transport and global climatic effects.