Main image via Twitter
While we in Malaysia have been suffering with the haze, things over in Indonesia are so bad that even the sky has changed colour, and we’re not talking about a sunset or anything like that.
via GIPHY
The widespread forest fires caused the people of Jambi, Indonesia to experience an unusual weather phenomenon on Sunday. The haze that rose to the upper levels of the atmosphere, caused the skies to turned a bloody red!
By noon, residents reported that the skies had turned dark as though it were midnight and they were forced to turn on the lights of vehicles and houses because sunlight was unable to penetrate the thick haze.
a strange phenomenon where the sky turns red happened in Indonesia from r/WTF
According to Indonesia National Board for Disaster Management information chief, Agus Wibowo Soet; the phenomenon – which is also known as “Rayleigh Scattering; was caused by the movement of haze away from hotspots.
Indonesia astronomer Marufin Sudibyo explained, “Rayleigh Scattering happens when sunlight is dispersed by smoke, dust or airborne particles that filter shorter wavelengths and release longer wavelengths that are in the orange or red spectrum, making the area appear to be dim and red.”
Marufin also explained that the density of the micro- and nano-particles in the air was large enough to make it much more dense than the normal atmosphere.
The Indonesian Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) offered a simpler explanation for this phenomenon saying that the sky’s change in colour was caused by the inability of the sun to reach the ground because of the thick haze.
The agency added that the blood red skies would disperse once the pollution has been blown away by strong winds and/or bouts of rain.
According to the Jambi residents, apart from the constant smoke smell, they were also inhaling ashes! Even staying indoors did not help as they still felt suffocated.
We really hope that the forest fires are put out soon for the safety and health of our country and our neighbouring countries!
Have you ever seen a blood red skies like this before?
Info via The Star
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