Haze is a weather phenomenon which gives the sky a cloudy appearance due to the presence fine particles of smoke, dust and other pollutants. This takes place when in dry air, particles of dust and smoke gather together.

Cause of Haze :

Under certain conditions of weather, when pollutants and smoke are not able to disperse, they cling together to form a hazy cloud at a low level. This obscures normal vision to a great extent. Industrial pollution gives rise to very thick haze called Smog.

Sources of Haze can be many. Some of them are:

•  Farming in dry weather

•  Industrial wastes and pollution

•  Traffic emissions

•  Smoke produced by forest fires and

•  Fire of the peat fields

Properties of Haze:

•  From a distance haze appears brownish in color.

•  It differs from mist as mist forms in humid air, whereas haze forms in drier air. Haze can function as points where mist condenses to form droplets.

Occurrences of Haze:

Haze is very common in Southeast Asia. It is a big problem in Indonesia, Kalimantan and Sumatra where forest and land fires cause regular haze . Owners of plantations and farmers burn away land for future farming. This not only produces haze but also destroys valuable agricultural lands and affects transportation, health and tourism. In October, 2006 Malaysia, Malacca Straits and Singapore were greatly affected by haze . Legal action has been taken by Indonesia against the farmers in order to check this problem.

Problems of Haze :

•  It can give rise to a number of serious respiratory diseases.

•  It reduces normal visibility.

Haze is actually a suspension of numerous, dry particulate substances present in the air.