Govt prepares weather modification operation to tackle drought in Java

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is preparing a weather modification operation (OMC) in early October to mitigate the risk of water shortages during a hotter and drier dry season across Java.

Tri Handoko Seto, BMKG Deputy for Weather Modification, said the operation is intended to increase rainfall potential to replenish reservoirs that support agriculture and water supplies for local communities amid the threat of drought.

"Currently, major reservoirs in Java, including Saguling, Cirata, and Jatiluhur in the Citarum River Basin, as well as the Brantas Reservoir in East Java, remain in stable condition. However, water deficits may emerge in September and October, so we plan to conduct weather modification operations across Java in early October," Seto said on Tuesday.

He explained that the proposal for the weather modification operation has been coordinated with the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) following the declaration of drought emergency status in several areas of West Java, Central Java, and East Java.

According to BMKG's climate analysis, western and southern parts of Indonesia are still receiving rainfall. However, precipitation is expected to decline sharply from July through mid-October, including across Java, due to the influence of El Niño.

"The peak of the extreme drought is forecast to occur in August and September. Therefore, preparedness from humanitarian organizations, including the Indonesian Red Cross (PMI), particularly in distributing clean water, is urgently needed," Seto said.

In addition to mitigating drought risks in Java's food-producing regions, BMKG plans to carry out weather modification operations in other parts of Indonesia to help maintain water levels in Lake Toba in North Sumatra and reservoirs in the Poso region of Central Sulawesi.

He added that the intervention is also intended to replenish declining water reserves while reducing the risk of forest and land fires that often trigger haze.

"We hope these weather modification operations will support the agricultural sector and help safeguard communities, particularly in Sumatra and Kalimantan, which are vulnerable to haze caused by forest and land fires," he said.

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Translator: M. Riezko Bima, Resinta Sulistiyandari

Editor: Primayanti

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