Technical Work Of TMC Operations By Spreading 6 Tons Of Salt

Head of BPPT's Center for Weather Modification Technology, Tri Handoko Seto (Mery Handayani / VOI)

JAKARTA - The Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) is currently implementing Weather Modification Technology (TMC) to prevent heavy rains from flushing Jabodetabek, which has just been hit by floods.

Later, Operation TMC will use CASA 212-200 aircraft with registration A-2105 and CN-295. This aircraft carries salt into the air and sows it in designated areas so that rain can fall before it reaches Jabodetabek.

Head of BPPT's Center for Weather Modification Technology, Tri Handoko Seto, said that the two planes will carry a total of 6 to 8 tons of salt a day, when conducting TMC operations.

"Every day it takes 4 sorties (four waves) but if possible more planes and crew are ready to do the work," said Seto, after a press conference, at the BPPT office, Jalan MH Thamrin, Central Jakarta, Friday 3 December.

Seto said, based on BPPT's experience, TMC operations were claimed to reduce rainfall intensity by 30 to 40 percent.

"Our experience in 2013, 2014 was able to reduce rainfall by 30-40 percent. In operations like this. Usually all of this salt we seedlings can produce millions of cubic of rainwater," he explained.

According to Seto, based on the information he received, up to this afternoon three sorties of aircraft had been dispatched to sprinkle salt at a number of predetermined points.

"Today the plan is for 4 sorties. Departing from Halim Perdanakusuma. The 3rd sortie road update report," said Seto.

Regarding which areas will be sowing, Seto explained, everything really depends on the growth of clouds. Clouds that have the potential to rain are targeted.

"The factor is that we see rain clouds with high potential, that is what we are seeding. So that the probability of rain falling is not in Jabodetabek, but in the area where the cloud comes from can be higher. Mainly we are in the Sunda and Lampung Strait and the Java Sea," he explained.

Seto gave an example, conveyed by BMKG that the arrival of clouds from Sumatra, the TMC operation will prevent these clouds from entering Jabodetabek by seeding in the Sunda Strait.

"We are seeding with salt, NaCl and it will rain in the Sunda Strait. So that it will fall into the sea. The rainfall in Jabodetabek can be reduced. So that we will not be flooded, due to the discharge or large volume of water as we have experienced, two and three days then, "he said.