Tropical depression Vamco left Pattaya with a lingering memory in the form of smoky haze that clouded all of the Pattaya area.
The thick, damp air wrecked the panoramic views for tourists at the Pratamnak Hill viewpoint and discouraged some boaters from taking their sailboats out on Pattaya Bay Sept. 20.
Jaruwat Srichawana, head of the Pattaya Meteorological Department, said the hazy conditions were the residual after effects of Vamco, which left lots of moisture in the area. Combined with Pattaya’s normal pollution, it made for some smoggy conditions.
Visibility became quite poor after Vamco left town, leaving heavy mist and pollution lingering over the city.
Air quality, in fact, was still good, according to the Chonburi Environment Office at 21-49 micrograms of pollutants per cubic meter of air.
Both the Pattaya Marine Department and the Naval Radio Station reported visibility at two kilometers and Jaruwat said boating was not significantly affected.
So, while many offered theories about what the haze was and where it came from, it turned out to be more smoke than fire.
