Instead Of Using Rain Handlers, BRIN Uses Weather Modification Technology To Overcome Forest And Land Fires In Riau

Operation of Weather Modification Technology (TMC) at Halim Perdanakusuma Air Base, Jakarta. (Between)

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has made a number of efforts to prevent forest and land fires (karhutla) in Riau. One of them is the operation of weather modification technology (TMC) or artificial rain.

"The plan starts on April 11, 2022, but we are still waiting for the readiness of TNI (Indonesian National Army) aircraft support," said BRIN TMC Management Laboratory Coordinator Budi Harsoyo when contacted Wednesday 6 April.

Budi said that TMC's operation in Riau was aimed at anticipating forest and land fire disasters by wetting peatlands so they don't burn easily and reducing the potential risk of forest and land fires.

The TMC operation is targeted to maintain the water level of the peat soil so that it remains at the upper limit of the drought threshold, and is planned to last for 15 days with budgetary support from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry.

For the time being, BRIN has prepared 20 tons of NaCl powder for the planned 15-day operation of TMC in Riau. "The budget from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry is supported by PT RAPP (Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper)," he said, as reported by Antara.

The implementation of TMC operations in Riau was carried out in collaboration with BRIN, the Ministry of Environment and Forestry (LHK), the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB), and the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

The activity also involved the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency, the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), and PT RAPP.

Previously, based on the BMKG analysis, monitoring the dynamics of the atmosphere when the climate of the Indonesian region was influenced by weak-neutral La Nina. This condition causes a dry season but is a bit wetter than normal.

Coordinator of BMKG Data and Information for the Riau Region, Marzuki, in a written statement received by ANTARA in Jakarta, Thursday, March 17, said that the high alertness for forest and land fires entered the beginning of the dry season for the second period, forecasted from May to September, with the peak of the dry season expected in June to July.

However, the preparedness of various parties needs to be carried out from May to September. During that period, the Riau region was in the dry season.

"However, in May this is a transition period in some areas that still have the potential for rain, or a transition from the rainy season to the dry season," he said.