Chiang Mai , Thailand’s second-largest city, lies within a network of narrow valleys in the country’s northern highlands. Though the historic city is known for panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, clear skies have become less common . In recent decades, smoke has increasingly darkened the skies during the dry season, particularly in March and April.
清迈是泰国第二大城市，位于该国北部高地的狭窄山谷网络内。尽管这座历史悠久的城市以周围群山的全景而闻名，但晴朗的天空已经变得不那么常见了。近几十年来，在旱季，尤其是三月和四月，烟雾使天空变得越来越暗。
A NASA satellite captured this smoky view of the city and the surrounding region on April 22, 2026, when haze partially obscured valleys and ridges typically visible under clearer conditions. Most of the smoke likely comes from small agricultural and forest fires lit to burn off crop debris or maintain forest ecosystems. In 2026, satellite sensors detected small numbers of fires throughout January, but fire detections became more numerous and widespread in February, March, and April. Fire activity typically peaks in March and fades by May as seasonal rains increase.
NASA 的一颗卫星于 2026 年 4 月 22 日捕捉到了这座城市及周边地区的烟雾缭绕的景象，当时雾霾部分遮盖了在晴朗条件下通常可见的山谷和山脊。大部分烟雾可能来自为烧掉农作物残骸或维持森林生态系统而点燃的小型农业和森林火灾。 2026 年，卫星传感器在整个 1 月份检测到少量火灾，但在 2 月、3 月和 4 月检测到的火灾数量和分布范围变得更多且更广泛。火灾活动通常在三月达到高峰，并随着季节性降雨的增加而在五月减弱。
Research indicates that smoke from biomass burning is one of the largest contributors to poor air quality in northern Thailand during the dry season. By one estimate , about 70 percent of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) in Chiang Mai in April comes from biomass burning. Smaller contributors to the region’s hazy skies include vehicles , power plants and industry, and charcoal burning for cooking and heating. Geography also plays a key role; the surrounding mountains block air flow and encourage temperature inversions that trap both local pollution and haze from the broader region in the valleys.
研究表明，生物质燃烧产生的烟雾是旱季泰国北部空气质量差的最大原因之一。据估计，4 月份清迈约 70% 的细颗粒物 (PM 2.5) 来自生物质燃烧。造成该地区天空雾霾的较小因素包括车辆、发电厂和工业，以及用于烹饪和取暖的木炭燃烧。地理也起着关键作用。周围的山脉阻碍了空气流动，导致气温倒转，从而困住了当地的污染和来自山谷更广阔地区的雾霾。
On the same day the satellite image was captured, air quality sensors on the ground recorded “unhealthy” and “very unhealthy” levels of PM 2.5 air pollution throughout Chiang Mai and the region, according to data from the World Air Quality Index project . Prolonged exposure to high levels of air pollution can contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and other health problems.
根据世界空气质量指数项目的数据，在拍摄卫星图像的同一天，地面空气质量传感器记录了整个清迈和该地区的 PM 2.5 空气污染“不健康”和“非常不健康”的水平。长期暴露在高浓度的空气污染中会导致呼吸系统和心血管疾病以及其他健康问题。
News reports suggest that the haze is affecting the tourism industry and has contributed to a decrease in the number of international travelers coming to Chiang Mai. After more than a month of persistent haze, the number of tourists arriving in the town of Pai, a popular destination for backpackers northwest of Chiang Mai, was down 90 percent, according to one local newspaper .
新闻报道表明，雾霾正在影响旅游业，并导致前往清迈的国际游客数量减少。据当地一家报纸报道，经过一个多月的持续雾霾后，抵达清迈西北部背包客热门目的地拜县的游客数量下降了 90%。
Unusually warm and dry conditions have gripped the region in recent weeks, according to meteorologists with the ASEAN Specialised Meteorological Centre (ASMC). On March 27, the group advised that there was a “high risk” of severe transboundary haze in the region and elevated its alert level to three , the highest on the scale.
东盟专业气象中心（ASMC）的气象学家表示，最近几周该地区出现了异常温暖和干燥的天气。 3月27日，该组织报告称，该地区存在严重跨界雾霾的“高风险”，并将警报级别提升至三级，为最高级别。
In late March, the group noted that dry conditions were forecast to persist over most parts of the Mekong sub-region, with prevailing winds expected to blow mostly from the south or southwest. “Under these conditions,” ASMC noted, “the hotspot and smoke haze situation could escalate further.”
3月下旬，该组织指出，预计湄公河次区域大部分地区将持续干旱，盛行风预计主要从南部或西南方向吹来。 ASMC 指出：“在这种情况下，热点和烟霾情况可能会进一步升级。”
NASA Earth Observatory image by Lauren Dauphin, using MODIS data from NASA EOSDIS LANCE and GIBS/Worldview . Story by Adam Voiland.
NASA 地球观测站图像，由 Lauren Dauphin 拍摄，使用来自 NASA EOSDIS LANCE 和 GIBS/Worldview 的 MODIS 数据。亚当·沃伊兰的故事。