Strong El Nino Triggers Increased Potential for East Java Forest Fires

MALANG - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) East Java Climatology Station (Jatim) reminds all areas in the local province to be aware of the strong category El Nino because it causes reduced rainfall, thus triggering an increase in the potential for forest and land fires (karhutla).

BMKG Praktirawan of the East Java Climatology Station, Linda Fitrotul, said that the El Nino indication was strong because the sea surface temperature anomaly value in the eastern Pacific Ocean (Nino 3.4) was above +2 degrees Celsius.

"The impact that needs to be watched out for is the reduction in rainfall and the dry season becoming drier, because it can cause days without rain to become longer, increase the potential for drought, reduce the availability of water for agriculture and community needs, and increase the risk of karhutla," said Linda.

El Nino is a strong category, he said, also caused by the occurrence of sea surface height anomalies in the western and eastern Indian Ocean, which is indicated by the Indian Ocean Dipole Index (IOD) in the range of positive 0.63 and indicates that water supply tends to move from western Indonesia to the east coast of Africa.

The combination of these conditions, in the end, according to him, is able to cause the dry season in Indonesia to be drier than normal.

The BMKG's East Java Climatological Station also estimates that the dry season in the local province will last until early 2027.

To respond to the existing conditions, his party appealed to the public not to carry out any activities that could trigger forest fires, such as throwing cigarette butts carelessly and burning garbage.

Then the public is also reminded not to carry out land or garden area cleaning activities by utilizing the use of fire or through burning.

"We also appeal to the public to be wise when using water," said Linda Fitrotul.