Indonesian Fires Girdled Half the Globe in Smoke

Fueled by underground peat deposits, the fires contributed massive amounts of carbon to the atmosphere.

For two months last year, a smoky plume stretched around half the globe at the equator, drifting from East Africa to the international dateline in the western Pacific Ocean. The billowing smoke emanated from Indonesia, which wheezed its way through its worst fire season in more than 15 years.

The smoky girdle—detected by NASA satellites—was emblematic of a phenomenon with wide-reaching climate and health impacts, according to new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Dry-season burning is commonplace in Indonesia: It remains the cheapest and most effective way to clear agricultural and logging waste. However, in exceptionally dry years—such as 2015, which was driven by El Niño conditions—this burning can threaten the extensive peat deposits underlying

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Read This Next

Is banning fishing bad for fishermen? Not in this marine reserve
SeaWorld allegedly violated the Animal Welfare Act. Why is it still open?
'World’s worst shipwreck' was bloodier than we thought

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet