Weather Modification To Reduce Jakarta Air Pollution

JAKARTA - The Indonesian government has begun to operate weather modification technology to reduce and tackle air pollution in urban areas in Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, Bekasi (Jabodetabek).

BRIN Weather Modification Technology Management Laboratory Coordinator Budi Harsoyo said the government had sprinkled 800 kilograms of salt in Cianjur, Depok, South Jakarta, and Central Jakarta, at an altitude of about 10,000 feet.

"The weather modification technology to reduce pollutants has been carried out by several countries, namely China, South Korea, Thailand, and India. Meanwhile, in Indonesia, this is the first time it has been implemented in the Greater Jakarta area," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Monday, August 21.

Based on BMKG predictions, he said, there is the potential for rain cloud growth in parts of DKI Jakarta and the southern part of West Java on August 19-21, 2023.

According to him, the most effective way to reduce air pollution is rainwater. If it is not possible because of the dryness, then modifying the weather can be done by disrupting atmospheric stability.

The activity of sowing seasoning in the form of dry ice at certain heights can disrupt atmospheric stability, because there is no difference in temperature at that height point or isotherm which then creates an inversion layer.

"Well, this is what we will disturb, open like that, so that the collections of pollutants confined around the Jakarta area can continue to climb up," said Budi.

On August 19, 2023, Saturday afternoon, the BMKG reported that the Ciomas area towards Mount Salak was cloudy. Light rain ranged from 17.27 to 19.51 WIB in West Bogor, South Bogor, Bojong Gede, Kemang, and Tenjolaya.

Meanwhile, the areas of Dramaga, Ciomas, Tamansari, Cijeruk, and Cigombong, were also reported to have experienced moderate rain. Other areas of Cibungbulang, Pamijahan, Leuwiliang, Nanggung experienced light rain at 19.00 - 21.00 WIB

Head of the BMKG Public Meteorology Center Andri Ramdhani revealed that the opportunity to modify the weather is still open, it's just that this opportunity is quite difficult to do by looking at the conditions of the dry season, which has minimal cumulus clouds, which are targets of salt semai.

He explained the relative overlayer humidity of dry and convective active potential low energy. From the results of atmospheric modeling for the next two days there are opportunities for rain in Bogor and South Tangerang.

"We hope that the wind will bring the clouds moving towards Jakarta, because the weather modifications cannot shift the clouds, but can expand the rain coverage area," he said.