Rainfall helps reduce air pollution from Indonesia wildfire – Pagasa

MANILA, Philippines — Rainfall is a factor in lowering air pollution levels linked to the wildfire in Indonesia, according to a Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) specialist.

In a phone interview with the Inquirer on Friday, Pagasa specialist John Manalo noted that the direction of the winds carrying the air pollutants was more leaning toward the Visayas and Mindanao as the southwest monsoon (habagat) continued to prevail over parts of Luzon.

“Yung mga pag-ulan na associated sa habagat ay nakakatulong para mas mabawasan yung concentration ng mga air pollutants. Mayroong pollutant deposition na nangyayari,” Manalo explained.

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(Rains associated with the southwest monsoon will help in reducing the concentration of air pollutants. Pollutant deposition occurs.)

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READ: Pagasa: Habagat rains to drench parts of Luzon on Friday, Sept. 4

“Yung epekto nito sa respiratory system ng mga makakalangap ay bahagyang mababawasan yung air pollution na malalanghap nila dahil din sa mga pag-ulan na yun,” he added.

(The effect on the respiratory system of those who breathe in this air is slightly reduced because of those rains.)

The southwest monsoon was forecast to bring rains over the western section of Luzon on Friday, Manalo said, adding that the rains may decrease over the weekend.

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Currently, air quality monitoring stations in all 16 cities and the lone municipality in the National Capital Region showed low PM2.5 air pollution levels between 20 and 41 as of 6 a.m. on Friday, according to data from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

Further, air quality monitoring stations in Meycauayan, Bulacan; and Santa Cruz, Zambales showed low PM2.5 air pollution levels between 17 and 35 as of 9 a.m. on Friday.

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PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter measuring 2.5 micrometers or less in diameter.

“Mababa yung air pollutants dahil sa pag-ulan for a certain period of time. Kapag kasi naging dry ulit, magkakaroon ulit ng dispersion and then possibly na naman umabot ng Luzon [yung pollutants],” Manalo explained.

(Air pollutants are lowered due to the rains for a certain period of time. Once it’s dry again, there will be dispersion and the pollutants may possibly reach Luzon.)

Meanwhile, according to Manalo, only isolated or scattered rain showers were forecast for most of the Visayas and Mindanao on Friday.

“Pero, dahil localized lang, yung magiging epekto nung pagkababa ng air pollutants dahil sa pag-ulan ay limited lang din dun sa area mismo kung saan umulan,” he added.

(But, because it’s localized, the effect on the lowering of air pollutants due to the rain may also be limited in the area where the rain occurs.)

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International media have reported that the fire in Indonesia has burned in recent weeks and may be exacerbated by a looming stronger El Niño. /jpv