FIGURE 5.8: Tracking pollution using data from NASA's TOMS satellite instrument. In 1997 smoke from Indonesian fires remained stagnant over Southeast Asia while smog (tropospheric, low-level ozone) spread more rapidly across the Indian Ocean toward India. This situation was exacerbated by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which had already increased the thickness of smog over the region. At the same time, additional smog from African fires streamed over the Indian Ocean and combined with the smog from Indonesia in mid-October (lower right), creating an aerial canopy of pollutants.

SOURCE: NASA