Fifth Day Weather Modification, Semai Awan in North Jakarta, Bogor, to Sunda Strait 

JAKARTA - The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government continued the Weather Modification Operation (OMC) on the fifth day, Tuesday, January 20. This operation is carried out as a mitigation step in the face of extreme weather and potential hydrometeorological disasters in Jakarta and its surrounding areas.

The implementation of OMC is carried out through cooperation between the DKI Jakarta BPBD with the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), and the Indonesian Air Force. The activity took place using a CASA 212 A-2105 aircraft based at Halim Perdanakusuma Airport, East Jakarta.

The Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial BPBD, Isnawa Adji, stated that the fifth day's operation was carried out based on the results of monitoring the current atmospheric conditions and was designed to maximize the effectiveness of mitigation.

"The implementation of the fifth day of OMC is planned and based on the latest meteorological monitoring. The support of the National Disaster Management Agency in two additional flights with a total of 2,000 kilograms of NaCl is very important to optimize the efforts to mitigate heavy rain," Isnawa said in a statement, Tuesday, January 20.

On this fifth day, operations were carried out through three flight sorties. The first sortie was carried out in the morning with a focus on seeding clouds in the waters north of Jakarta. The seeding was carried out at an altitude of 8,000 to 12,000 feet using 800 kilograms of Sodium Chloride (NaCl) to disperse the rain clouds before entering the mainland.

The second batch was directed to the overhead area of Bogor Regency. The seeding was carried out at an altitude of 5,000 to 7,000 feet using 800 kilograms of Calcium Oxide (CaO).

This step is aimed at controlling the growth of rain clouds in the southern region so that the intensity of rain moving towards Jakarta can be suppressed. Meanwhile, the third sorti was carried out during the day with a focus on sowing in the overhead area of the Sunda Strait.

The seeding was carried out at an altitude of 8,000 to 12,000 feet using 800 kilograms of NaCl, with the aim of directing precipitation to be concentrated in the waters and reducing the risk of heavy rain on the Jakarta mainland.

Isnawa said that cross-agency evaluation and coordination would continue every day during the OMC implementation. This step is to adjust the cloud seeding strategy to the developing weather dynamics.

Isnawa also reminded the public to remain vigilant against the potential for extreme weather that is still likely to occur in the next few days.

"The public is urged to remain vigilant against the potential for moderate to heavy rain accompanied by lightning/thunder and strong winds, and to also maintain the cleanliness of water channels and the environment," he said.