Pollution Surge at the End of January
It feels worth spending a lot of time outdoors as long as the sky remains as blue and beautiful as it has been throughout January! 😍
Air quality in Jabodetabek was observed to be good from January 22-25, 2024. This was largely due to strong winds (up to 7 m/s), which 'cleared out' PM2.5 to be detected at only 8-9 μg/m3.
Unfortunately, at the end of January, specifically from the 26th to the 29th, pollution in Jabodetabek increased again. This was caused by a decrease in wind speed, which became 7 times slower than before. As a result, the PM2.5 levels in the air rose to 41-42 μg/m3, which is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Meanwhile, outside Jabodetabek, several regions like Bandung Raya and Surabaya Raya also experienced an increase in pollution. In Bandung, there was an 8-fold surge in pollution, entering the unhealthy category. Similarly, in Surabaya, there was a 7-fold increase, also reaching the unhealthy category for sensitive groups.
The deterioration of air quality in Surabaya was influenced by similar climatic conditions as in Jabodetabek, namely a cyclone on January 22-23, 2024, which did not affect East Java (source: BMKG Youtube).
Here are some of the most affected areas due to the increase in pollution.
The three most affected cities are Sidoarjo, Malang, and Batu, all of which are located in East Java. This indicates that pollution in these areas is currently quite high.
Air quality outdoors can change rapidly, always check the Nafas app before going outside to engage in activities!
