00:00Indonesia's 2026 fire season is intensifying, driven by severe drought and a strong El Nino.
00:06But some of the country's most dangerous fires may be nearly impossible to see.
00:11Peat fires can burn slowly beneath the ground, smoldering through carbon-rich wetland soil.
00:17They can continue burning for weeks or even months until heavy seasonal rains arrive.
00:21The smoke is also a major concern for air quality and public health.
00:25One estimate found peat fires release three times more fine particulate matter than other tropical forest fires.
00:32On August 31st, Indonesia's fire monitoring platform recorded 946 hotspots nationwide.
00:39And in early August, about 90% of Indonesia received little to no rain.
00:44Scientists say the current pattern is tracking similarities with the severe 2015 fire season.
00:49That year, Indonesian fires released an estimated 1.75 billion tons of greenhouse gas equivalents.
00:57Now, researchers are developing improved satellite methods to detect fires hidden beneath forest canopies.
01:04As the dry season continues, monitoring these invisible fires will be critical for Indonesia and its neighbors.
01:11Disclosure. This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
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