Population exposure to hazardous air quality due to the 2015 fires in Equatorial Asia

• DOI: 10.1038/srep37074
• Publication Date: 2016-11-16T10:21:29Z
• Authors: P. Crippa; S. Castruccio; S. Archer-Nicholls; G. B. Lebron; M. Kuwata; A. Thota; S. Sumin; E. Butt; C. Wiedinmyer; D. V. Spracklen
• Keywords: Deforestation

Abstract Vegetation and peatland fires cause poor air quality thousands of premature deaths across densely populated regions in Equatorial Asia. Strong El-Niño positive Indian Ocean Dipole conditions are associated with an increase the frequency intensity wildfires Indonesia Borneo, enhancing population exposure to hazardous concentrations smoke pollutants. Here we investigate impact on Asia during Fall 2015, which were largest over past two decades. We performed high-resolution simulations using Weather Research Forecasting model Chemistry based a new fire emission product. The captures spatio-temporal variability extreme pollution episodes relative space- ground-based observations allows for identification sources transport calculate that high particulate matter from 2015 responsible persistent 69 million people unhealthy conditions. Short-term this may have caused 11,880 (6,153–17,270) excess mortalities. Results research provide decision-relevant information policy makers regarding land use changes human driven deforestation degraded quality.