ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Southeast Asian haze

Have you ever seen fog or smoke in the air? Well, in Southeast Asia, there is a lot of smoke and fog in the air, and it's called haze. The haze is made up of tiny particles that come from things like burning forests, cars, and factories.

When people burn things like forests or fields, they release smoke into the air. The smoke has tiny particles called PM2.5 which can be very harmful to people and animals if they breathe it in. These particles are so tiny that they can get inside your body and make you sick.

When the haze is really bad, it can be hard to see and breathe outside. Some people wear masks to protect themselves from the haze. Schools may have to close, and it can make it hard for people to go about their daily lives.

The Southeast Asian haze usually happens during the dry season when there is less rain to put out fires. It can affect many countries in the region, like Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

The good news is that people are working together to try and stop the haze from happening. Governments are trying to stop the fires from starting, and people are using cleaner forms of energy instead of burning things. If we all work together, we can help to make the air cleaner and healthier for everyone!