Thousands of hotspots across Thailand
published : 14 Feb 2023 at 15:03
writer: Gary Boyle
ORIGINAL SOURCE/WRITER: Apinya Wipatayotin
Satellites detected 2,656 fire-danger hotspots in Thailand on Monday, more than were found in neighbouring countries.
Trailing behind Thailand's 2,656 hotspots were Myanmar (2,321), Laos (1,422), Cambodia (664), Vietnam (542), and just one in Malaysia.
In Thailand, there were 1,196 hotspots in conservation forests, 1,071 in national forest reserves, 159 in agricultural areas, 127 in areas for agricultural land reform, 100 near communities and three by highways.
Most of the hotspots were in the North - 338 in Lampang, 321 in Tak, 318 in Nan and 249 in Chiang Mai provinces.
Wildfires and hotspots are normally followed by unsafe levels of PM2.5 dust. Hotspots in neighbouring countries could also be blown over the border into Thailand, worsening the PM2.5 problem.
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Vocabulary
- agricultural (adj): of the science or practice of farming - ที่เกี่ยวกับเกษตรกรรม
- conservation (noun): the protection of plants and animals, natural areas, and interesting and important structures and buildings, especially from the damaging effects of human activity - การอนุรักษ์ธรรมชาติ, การป้องกันความสูญเสีย, การสงวนไว้
- forest reserve: a forest area that is set aside for animals, trees and plants - ป่าสงวน
- hotspot: a place where there is a lot of activity, or a higher temperature than normal -
- PM2.5 (n): atmospheric particulate matter (PM) with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres, which is about 3% the diameter of a human hair. It can lodge in the lungs and enter blood vessels, leading to respiratory and cardiovascular disease -
- satellite: an electronic device that is sent into space and moves around the earth or another planet. It is used for communicating by radio, television, etc. and for providing information - ดาวเทียม
- trail: to be behind some in a competition - ตาม
