Monthly monitor of rainfall and water table depth in SE Asian peatlands

The currently (2026) developing El Niño causes severe drought and fire risk in SE Asian peatlands. To help monitor this situation, we publish monthly updates of rainfall and water table depth in the region, following the method recently published in this paper (assuming undrained peatland conditions):

Modelling water table depth variation in Southeast Asia forested peatlands using satellite rainfall data

⚡ Status Update By 31 August 2026, satellite rainfall and modelled peat water table depth both indicate conditions that are similar or somewhat drier to August 2015, and far drier than 2019 and 2023.
Map of 3-month rainfall total, SE Asia
Map of modelled water table depth in undrained peat swamp forest, SE Asia

Maps of (left) 3 monthly rainfall total and (right) modelled water table depth in undrained peat swamp forest conditions

Monthly maps for 2026 and (for comparison) the 2015 El Niño year are shown HERE .

Rainfall and peat water table depth for selected provinces in Sumatra and Borneo.

Graph of rainfall and water table depth time series, Central Kalimantan and South Sumatra

(Top) Rainfall and (bottom) peat water table depth time series for (left) Central Kalimantan and (right) South Sumatra for the 2015, 2019, 2023 and 2026 dry years.

Table of rainfall and water table depth statistics by province