BPBD-BMKG Modified Jakarta Weather Press Air Pollution

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) is coordinating with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) to modify Jakarta's weather.

"We are coordinating with BNPB and BMKG regarding the direction of the Acting Governor to carry out weather modification technology (TMC) in Jakarta, along with Jakarta's declining air conditions in recent times," said Head of BPBD DKI Jakarta IsnawaAdji quoted by ANTARA, Saturday, June 22.

The Jakarta area and its surroundings, said Isnawa, have done TMC to overcome extreme weather conditions and air pollution.

"As at the end of 2022, BPBD coordinates with a joint TMC team consisting of BMKG, BRIN, BNPB and the Indonesian Air Force to seed salt in the Jakarta area to overcome the potential for extreme weather that occurs," he said.

Then in mid-2023, TMC was also carried out to deal with air pollution in Jakarta during the dry season with collaboration from the joint team.

"The goal is to ensure that Jakarta's air pollution can be controlled and does not have a serious follow-up impact on the people of Jakarta," he said.

Currently, the DKI BPBD is coordinating with a number of related parties to resume TMC. One of them is BMKG.

"BMKG has formed a deputy who specifically works to carry out weather modification operations, which will later be able to help Jakarta to discuss more technical issues regarding the implementation of TMC operations in the future," said Isnawa.

Air quality in Jakarta during the 497th Anniversary on Saturday morning was categorized as unhealthy and was ranked second as the worst air city in the world.

According to air quality monitoring site IQ Air, which was monitored on Thursday at 06.26 WIB, the air quality in DKI Jakarta is categorized as unhealthy with the number 182 referring to PM2.5 assessment with a concentration value of 99.5 micrograms per cubic meter.

That much concentration is equivalent to 19.9 times the annual air quality guide value of the World Health Organization (WHO). PM 2.5 is an air particle that is small in size from 2.5 microns (micrometers).

The unhealthy category, namely the quality of the air which is detrimental to humans or groups of animals that are sensitive or can cause damage to plants or aesthetic values.

The site also recommends air conditions in Jakarta, namely for people to avoid outdoor activities, if they are outdoors, wear a mask, then close the window to avoid dirty outside air.