Gov’t Rolls Out Weather Modification Ahead of Peak of Dry Season

The Environment and Forestry Minister gives a press statement after a limited meeting, Tuesday (23/6). (Photo by: Rahmat/ PR).

The Government has announced it has launched a weather modification technology (TMC) program to create an artificial rain in anticipation of the looming drought in June and July.

According to Minister of the Environment and Forestry Siti Nurbaya, her Ministry has conducted a study related to climate patterns and the emergence of hotspots, as well as the times of forest and land fires that normally occur from the second week of August to the first week of September.

“If we observe the patterns of hotspots in the provinces of Riau, Aceh, and areas in North Sumatra province, there are two critical phases. The first phase is in the months of March-April and the second phase is in June-July,” she said during a press statement, Tuesday (23/6).

This year’s dry season, according to the Minister, is expected to reach its peak in August or September.

The Minister also said that the the weather modification technology is based on an analysis of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and conducted by the Agency for the Assessment of and Application of Technology (BPPT).

As for firefighting operation, the Ministry is assisted by the Indonesian Air Force aircraft, she added.

The Government has previously introduced weather modification in several places in Sumatra between 13 and 31 May and as a result, no haze was reported during the last Eid.

The Minister said that the modification will continue to be done.

“There is a correlation in modification of rainy days. The clouds are induced so that they have a lot of water vapor so it becomes rain and the rain will provide water for the reservoirs that have been built on the peatland,” she said, adding that the weather modification will also be carried out in Kalimantan island, which will see the peak of dry season in August.

“We hope this systematic measure can serve as a solution to the issues of forest and land fires,” the Minister said. (FID/EN)

Translator: Muhardi
Reviewed by: M. Ersan Pamungkas