People with intrest in Thailand might have been following the news about the bad Air Quality. This is a yearly repeated problem (since at least 50 years) that is turning into a healthy disaster for humans and animals. Photo above show the AQI (Air Quality Index) of in North, Central and Northeast Thailand on 27 March 2023. See Air Pollution Thailand by AQI Visual Map. Mind you I did select Thailand, so that is why it looks that in nearby countries like Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia the air is fine. But there is just as a disaster as in Thailand. And mind you in Thailand are many government & private Air Quality Stations, so easy to show the Air Quality. But in countries like Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia are much, much less Air Quality Station, so easy too look better. But luckily there are satellite systems that can see wild fires. Photo below shows the Live Animated Air Quality Map by IQAir with wild fires. Again mind you because "small" wild fires are not seen by satellite. And those wild fires are not really "wild" as most of them are created on purpose or are associated with agriculture burning by farmers for corn, rice and sugarcane. To check the Air Quality I use a app called AirVisual from the company Air Visual. To keep the air in my house a bit cleaner I use a Air Purifier with HEPA filter from Xiaomi.
This yearly repeated air quality problem is called the burning season and is from end February until begin April. If we are lucky there are some summer storms that will bring wind and rain. Until this year this not really happend. Currently on 27 March 2023 the AQI in Nan is 348 !!! That is Hazardous !!!
In the past 10 years there has been a lot of talking about stopping the burning (and all other things that create air pollution) but nothing has changed. Personally I see as only solutions :
- Change the way that farmers are living & working, change the way land possession is regulated.
- Blame not only the people starting the fires but also the companies (and people who own this companies) for buying agricultural products that knowingly are produced in a environmentally unfriendly way.
- Law enforcement
- Hoping that the big agricultural companies can make more money with tourism as with cheap production of corn, sugarcane and rice.
And my travel tips? Do not travel in North or Northeast Thailand during March! For more postings about Air Quality in Thailand click on the label AQI.
Remark : All this information is based on my personal experience with the use of Air Visual and living in North Thailand. I am not a air quality expert.
This travelogue follows my traveling in Thailand (and beyond) with in between information that might help you when traveling in Thailand. If you are interested to visit Thailand and need some information or help then please feel free to contact me by email at The Little Elephant Traveling in Thailand.
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| Live Animated Air Quality Map by IQAir (March 2023) |
Disclaimer : All information is created in good faith and is an expression of fair comment.
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