Weather Modification Operation In Central Java Lasts Until The Day Of Wednesday

Head of the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, accompanied by the Mayor of Semarang Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu/ANTARA HO Semarang City Government

SEMARANG - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) said that the operation of weather modification technology (TMC) in the Central Java region lasted for five days, from Friday (15/3) to Wednesday (20/3) the day after tomorrow.

"Today the Mayor of Semarang and I are at General Ahmad Yani Aviation Field. We are currently looking at and checking the readiness of the TMC activities," said Head of BNPB Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, in Semarang as reported by ANTARA, Monday, March 18.

According to him, the TMC operation was carried out by air, namely by sprinkling the material while using an airplane aimed at reducing the intensity of rain in the Central Java region.

Every day, he said, airplanes will be dispatched three times or three flight terms, with each sort carrying one ton of material to be distributed.

"So one day 3 tons, three days it's 9 tons. The results, in particular in the morning and afternoon there is no rain. Indeed, last night in Semarang City there was still rain but it was still under control," he said.

The TMC operation in this early stage will last for five days, but it will continue to monitor weather conditions and continue to coordinate with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).

"Today there is also a coordination meeting at the Governor's Office (Central Java, ed.) with the Head of BMKG as well. We will coordinate whether it still has to be extended (TMC, ed) or transferred to other cities," he said.

He said, TMC is very useful to implement, both during the rainy season to reduce or divert, as well as when there is a drought it can be used to bring rain.

So far, said Suharyanto, the use of semai materials for weather engineering has no side effects, but natural conditions cannot be regulated in such a way continuously.

"So, this is also done when needed. With TMC, now the rain in Semarang City can be reduced, but in other parts of the city it is needed. So, it must be considered carefully. Therefore, BNPB always coordinates with BMKG," he said.

Meanwhile, Semarang Mayor Hevearita Gunaryanti Rahayu expressed her gratitude to BNPB, BMKG, and all other ranks who provided support for flood management.

Ita, Hevearita's nickname, admits that TMC is very helpful to reduce intensity and rainfall, considering that BMKG's prediction for one week will experience extreme weather.

"We see, morning to evening there is no rain, stay at night. With the reduced intensity of rain, post-flood treatment can run optimally," he said.