BRIN Successfully Modified The Weather To Prevent Forest And Land Fires In Jambi-Sumsel

Aircraft belonging to the Indonesian Air Force to help spread salt in the air above the provinces of Jambi and South Sumatra, Monday, (8/5/23). (ANTARA)

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has successfully carried out a Weather Modification Technology Operation (TMC) for the Jambi and South Sumatra regions (Sumsel) to prevent forest and land fires (Karhutla). The result was that after distributing 800 kilograms of salt in the air, the weather in the two provinces rained in how many days. "Alhamdulillah, the TMC operation that we have carried out since last Thursday and Friday went smoothly, without any significant problems," said Jambi-Sumsel TMC Field Coordinator Fikri Nur Muhammad, Antara, Monday, May 8. Disbursement of 800 kilograms of salt with Casa TNI AU C / 212 Aviocar-Squadron 4 Malang-plane at Sultan Thaha Jambi Airport, last Friday afternoon (5/5) Fikri explained that the TMC activity which was carried out at around 13.00 WIB targeted potential clouds containing water vapor above the Jambi border sky - Musibanyuasin Regency, South Sumatra. "Through this operation, we hope to be effective in reducing rain for wetting or adding water reserves, especially on peatlands in Jambi and South Sumatra," said Fikri. The TMC activity, which is centered at the Jambi Province Karhutla Command Post, uses the old VIP building at Sultan Thaha Jambi Airport, according to Fikri, is scheduled for 12 days, since May 4, 2023. For TMC purposes at the Jambi Karhutla Command Post, 30 tons are available. It was explained in the implementation of TMC that BRIN collaborated with relevant stakeholders, including BNPB, TNI, BMKG, KLHK, BRGM, Jambi Provincial Government, South Sumatra Provincial Government, PT Angkasa Pura. "This is collaborative work, including for Jambi, we also have support from PT WKS (Wirakarya Sakti, APP Sinar Mas business unit in Jambi Province) and hopefully this operation will be effective in preventing forest and land fires. Alhamdulillah, based on the joint monitoring earlier, in the last three days the Jambi region to the South Sumatra limit has zero hotspots," he said. Meanwhile, Jambi BPBD Head Bachyuni Deliansyah said Jambi Province had made initial anticipation in efforts to prevent forest and land fires. In 2023, it is predicted that the weather will be drier than 2022 and atmospheric conditions are almost the same as 2019. "Therefore, initial anticipation efforts are needed in handling forest and land fires in Jambi," he said. In order to strengthen the control of forest and land fires, Jambi Province will continue to carry out a forest and land fire alert rally led directly by the Governor of Jambi.