Land

Singapore is located between latitudes 1°09’N and 1°29’ N and longitudes 103°36’ E and 104°25’ E.

The main island of Singapore is about 49km from east to west and 28km from north to south with a coastline of 228km. The total land area of Singapore is approximately 734.3km² as at end December 2022. The figures are based on 2.515m High Water Mark cadastral survey boundaries.

Singapore is generally flat, with much of the island lying within 15m of sea level. The highest point of the island’s surface reaches 164 m.

Singapore can be geographically divided into three major areas – the central hilly area with heavy deposits of granite in Bukit Timah, Bukit Panjang, Bukit Mandai and Bukit Batok; the western undulating area comprising Mount Faber Ridge and Pasir Panjang Ridge; and the eastern coastal area consisting of alluvium and sediment stretches from Katong to Bedok and Changi.

Data

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Air Quality and Climate

Air Quality

 

The ambient air quality in Singapore is continuously monitored by the National Environment Agency (NEA) through a network of 22 fixed air quality monitoring stations located across 5 regions of Singapore. The hourly concentrations of air pollutants, namely Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), Particulate Matter smaller than 10 microns (PM10), Particulate Matter smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5), Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Ozone (O3), are used to compute the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI). The 24-hour PSI is published on the NEA and haze websites, as well as on the myENV app.

 

Singapore’s ambient air quality is described as ‘Good’, ‘Moderate’, ‘Unhealthy’, ‘Very Unhealthy’ or ‘Hazardous’ depending on the 24-hour PSI level. During the traditional dry season when Singapore’s air quality is likely to be impacted by transboundary smoke haze, NEA will publish the 24-hr PSI forecast. Members of public can refer to the 24-hr PSI forecast with the accompanying health advisories to plan for next day outdoor activities, and refer to the 1-hr PM2.5 bandings and personal guide when deciding on carrying out immediate outdoor activities.

 

There were 2 days in October 2023 when the air quality entered the ‘Unhealthy’ range, with the 24-hr PSI exceeding 100. This was due to elevated PM2.5 levels, as Singapore was impacted by transboundary smoke haze.

 

The air quality in 2023 was in the ‘Good’ and ‘Moderate’ range for 99.5% of the year.

 

 

Climate

Singapore is situated near the equator and has a tropical climate, with relatively high and uniform temperature, abundant rainfall, and high humidity. Singapore's climate is characterised by two monsoon seasons separated by inter-monsoon periods. The Northeast Monsoon occurs from December to early March, and the comparatively drier Southwest Monsoon from June to September.

The early part of the Northeast Monsoon (December and January) is the wetter period of the year when monsoon surges occur, which can bring prolonged heavy rain to Singapore. The later part of the Northeast Monsoon (February to early March) is usually much drier, with February being the driest month of the year.

Afternoon thunderstorms with frequent lightning are common throughout the year, especially during the inter-monsoon periods from late March to May and October to November. During the Southwest Monsoon and inter-monsoon periods, widespread heavy rain and gusty winds associated with Sumatra squalls occur occasionally.

Based on records from the Changi climate station, Singapore’s long-term (1991-2020¹) annual mean temperature is 27.8°C, with average daily maximum and minimum temperatures of 31.6°C and 25.0°C respectively. The long-term average annual total rainfall is 2113.3mm. With climate change and urbanisation, Singapore’s annual mean temperature has risen at an average rate of 0.24°C per decade between 1984 and 2023. For 2023, the annual mean temperature and total rainfall was 28.2°C and 2411.2mm respectively.

The Meteorological Service Singapore publishes the Annual Climate Assessment Report² every year. The report provides updates on Singapore’s climate trends, with descriptions of key climatic features and notable weather events that affect Singapore.

¹ The World Meteorological Organisation defines climate as the average state of the weather over a period of 30 years or more. Climate statistics are based on a 30-year reference period that is updated every ten years, with 1991-2020 as the current reference period.
² www.weather.gov.sg/climate-annual-climate-reports

Data

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Waste Management

Waste disposed of in Singapore is broadly classified into two categories:

• Domestic waste (e.g. waste collected from residential premises, markets, food retail outlets, schools and trade premises); and
• Non-domestic waste (e.g. waste collected from commercial and industrial premises).

Singapore has in place an integrated waste and resource management system. Waste that is not segregated at source for recycling is collected and sent to disposal facilities. Waste that can be incinerated is disposed of safely through incineration at waste-to-energy plants, which are fitted with flue gas treatment systems to remove pollutants. After incineration, ferrous and non-ferrous metals are recovered from the ash residues. The remaining ashes and non-incinerable waste are then landfilled at the offshore Semakau Landfill.

Data

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Other References

External Sources