Indonesia trials dry ice dispersal by plane over South Sumatra to clear fire haze
Indonesia planned its first trial of dispersing 1.5 tons of dry ice by plane over South Sumatra on 15 October to ease smoke from fires. An Australian bushfire researcher quoted by The Guardian expects only limited, local relief.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Indonesia planned to trial dispersing dry ice (solid carbon dioxide) from aircraft over South Sumatra on Thursday 15 October, as forest and land fires blanket Southeast Asia in thick smoke. CNAN “Indonesia will trial the use of dry ice, or solid carbon dioxide, to clear the haze on Thursday (Oct 15)” Read at CNA ↗ The GuardianLC “dry ice would be dropped on the province of South Sumatra on Thursday” Read at The Guardian ↗ Mixed · 2The Coordinating Ministry for Political and Security Affairs said planes would douse the skies over urban centres with 1.5 tons of dry ice in the country's first such trial; The Guardian reported that a Cessna would disperse it over Palembang. CNAN “planes will douse the skies over urban centres in South Sumatra with 1.5 tons of dry ice, in the country's first trial of using this technique” Read at CNA ↗ The GuardianLC “a Cessna aircraft will reportedly disperse 1.5 tons of dry ice over the South Sumatran city of Palembang” Read at The Guardian ↗ Mixed · 2Coordinating Minister Dudung Abdurachman said the trial follows a direct instruction from President Prabowo Subianto, and that the dry ice is meant to break up smoke trapped low in the atmosphere so it rises. The GuardianLC “This trial of dry ice dispersal is being conducted under the president’s direct instruction” Read at The Guardian ↗ CNAN “The function of dry ice is to break down the smoke that was previously below so that it can rise upwards” Read at CNA ↗
Centre · 1The ministry said the method differs from weather modification (OMC), which seeds clouds to induce rain and put out fires; both will run simultaneously in South Sumatra. Authorities hope visibility will improve from about 1km to 5km or more, with dry ice sourced from Lampung province and local suppliers. CNAN “Both methods will be used simultaneously as part of efforts to tackle forest and land fires in South Sumatra.”“from about 1km to 5km or more”“The dry ice will be sourced from neighbouring Lampung province and local suppliers.” Read at CNA ↗ Mixed · 2Dudung said results would be observed first, and if effective the method could be used elsewhere, such as Central Kalimantan. The GuardianLC “if effective, there is a possibility that this method could be implemented in other regions” Read at The Guardian ↗ CNAN “we will continue to other areas where haze is concentrated, such as Central Kalimantan and its surroundings” Read at CNA ↗ Left · 1Rick McRae, an adjunct professor in UNSW's bushfire research group, told The Guardian the technique has some potential for local relief but is not a permanent fix, because prevailing winds keep bringing more smoke. The GuardianLC “It’s got some potential for local relief that might work for a while”“It’s not going to be simple and it’s not going to be a permanent fix in any way.” Read at The Guardian ↗
Left · 1The Guardian reported almost 900,000 hectares burned across Indonesia since January in the worst fire season in more than a decade, worsened by El Niño and slash-and-burn land clearing, with tens of thousands treated for respiratory illness and a class action lawsuit filed accusing the government of "gross negligence". The GuardianLC “almost 900,000 hectares have been burned Indonesia-wide in the worst fire season in more than a decade”“a class action lawsuit filed last week accusing it of “gross negligence”” Read at The Guardian ↗ Mixed · 2The haze has spread to Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines; Timor-Leste is closing schools nationwide for three days, Singapore has introduced haze-related medical subsidies and N95 mask distribution, and Central Kalimantan's air pollution index exceeded 1,200 on Wednesday. The GuardianLC “Timor-Leste has said it would shut schools nationwide for three days from Thursday”“the ISPU air pollution index exceeded 1,200” Read at The Guardian ↗ CNAN “The worsening haze has already forced school closures in parts of Malaysia and Timor-Leste.” Read at CNA ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- The Guardian presents the trial as an unusual last-resort measure amid a worsening regional crisis, with expert doubt and mounting criticism of the government.
- Emphasis
- Scale of fires and health toll, neighbouring countries' suffering, the class action lawsuit, and an outside expert's caution about limited relief.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives little of the ministry's technical rationale, the OMC distinction, the visibility targets or the dry ice sourcing.
- Charged language
- “apocalyptic tangerine haze”“godzilla”
- For example
-
“the government is testing an unusual new approach to tackle the haze: dry ice.” — The Guardian
“criticism mounting of the government’s response” — The Guardian
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- CNA reports the trial largely as a government announcement, detailing how and why it will be done.
- Emphasis
- Ministry press release, Dudung's explanation, the OMC distinction, visibility goals, logistics and possible expansion.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Includes no independent expert assessment, fire-season totals, health impacts or the lawsuit and criticism of the government.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Indonesia is trialling 1.5 tons of dry ice dispersed by plane over South Sumatra on 15 October.
- Coordinating Minister Dudung Abdurachman said the trial is on President Prabowo Subianto's direct instruction.
- The method could be extended to other regions if effective.
- Haze from fires has caused school closures in neighbouring countries including Timor-Leste.
Where accounts differ
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How effective dry ice dispersal is likely to be
- Left
- An expert says it may give only local, temporary relief and is not a permanent fix.
- Centre
- The ministry says it will break up trapped smoke and hopes to lift visibility from about 1km to 5km or more; results are to be evaluated.
Indonesia place
The government, through Minister Dudung Abdurachman, presents the trial as a presidentially ordered extra effort alongside cloud seeding, to be expanded if effective. Critics cited by The Guardian have accused it of gross negligence.
“So, we are making all efforts from various angles” — CNA
“a class action lawsuit filed last week accusing it of “gross negligence”” — The Guardian
UK and Ireland1 outlet
Places the trial in the wider regional crisis and stresses expert doubt and government criticism.
“experts say the use of dry ice, or solid carbon dioxide, might only offer local, and limited relief.” — The Guardian
The Guardian
East and Southeast Asia1 outlet
Focuses on the operational details and goals of the trial as announced by the ministry.
“Authorities hope the operation will improve visibility in smoke-affected areas from about 1km to 5km or more.” — CNA
CNA
Left2 articles
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Indonesia fights fire with dry ice as toxic haze spreads across region
Mixed Treats the trial as an unusual measure amid a deepening crisis, balancing ministerial quotes with expert scepticism and government criticism.
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Centre1 article
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CNAN ·
Indonesia to use dry ice to clear haze from forest fires
Neutral Relays the ministry's plan and rationale in detail without independent assessment.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 15 Oct 05:25 First The GuardianLC Indonesia fights fire with dry ice as toxic haze spreads across region
- 15 Oct 08:30 +3h 5m CNAN Indonesia to use dry ice to clear haze from forest fires
- 15 Oct 08:36 +3h 12m ABC News (Australia)LC Indonesia to deploy dry ice to reduce thick haze from fires
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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