BRIN Modified 12 Days Of Weather In Jambi And South Sumatra

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

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has modified the weather to wet peatlands in Jambi and South Sumatra Provinces.

The weather modification operation for the two areas was centered at Sultan Thaha Airport, Jambi. The activity has been going on since May 3, 2023 and lasts for 12 days.

"The operation of this weather modification technology aims to add water deposits in peat domes located in Jambi and South Sumatra as an effort to reduce the impact of El Nino," said BRIN Weather Modification Technology Management Laboratory Coordinator Budi Harsoyo as reported by ANTARA, Monday, May 8.

Budi hopes that the filled water deposits in the peat dome will be able to shorten the drought period, thereby reducing the potential for forest fires and peatlands in Jambi and South Sumatra.

"The weather modification activity received financing support from PT Wira Karya Sakti (APP Sinar Mas)," he said.

The operation was carried out in collaboration between BRIN, BMKG, and the Indonesian Air Force as the implementing team supported by a number of relevant stakeholders, including KLHK, BRGM, BNPB, PT Angkasa Pura II and the Provincial Governments of Jambi and South Sumatra.

According to him, five times the flight sorti of cloud seeding has been carried out with three tons of material Semai NaCl. The salt seeding activity into space uses an aircraft with registration number A-2104 belonging to the Indonesian Air Force from Air Squadron IV Abdulrachman Saleh Air Base in Malang, East Java.

Budi explained that the implementation of the weather modification operation was a follow-up to the coordination meeting of forest fires and peatlands on April 26, 2023.

The central government has compiled a schedule for planning weather modification operations in a number of provinces prone to forest fires and peatlands as a form of El Nino's anticipation.

After from Jambi and South Sumatra, the implementation of weather modifications will be continued to Riau, West Kalimantan, Central Kalimantan, South Kalimantan, and East Kalimantan with budget support from the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in collaboration with the Indonesian Forest Entrepreneurs Association (APHI), BRGM, and BNPB.