Temperature In Labuan Bajo NTT Becomes Cold, BMKG Asks Residents Not To Panic

The atmosphere of Labuan Bajo waters, West Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province. (ANTAHO-Gecio Viana)

NTT - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) appealed to residents in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) not to panic about the cold temperature changes in the last few days.

Head of Komodo Meteorological Station, Maria Patricia Christin Seran, said the situation was a natural phenomenon during the dry season.

"Wearing clothes that are comfortable, maintaining health, because the temperature transition from night to cold morning and reducing outdoor activities at night or early morning," he said when contacted in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai, NTT, Wednesday, July 17, was confiscated by Antara. He added that every June-July the people of NTT must always ask why the air temperature feels cooler than usual.

This cold temperature, he continued, in addition to being felt by the people of NTT, was also experienced by people in southern Java, Bali, and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB). "The main factor that causes the immediate cold temperature in June and July is the cold air intrusion from the Australian region," he said. He explained that currently the apparent movement of the sun is still in the northern hemisphere, so that the air pressure in the north will be lower than the pressure in the south or Australia.

In this Australian monsoon period, he said, the winds blowing from the Australian continent carried air masses which are generally drier and cooler in nature, especially now that Australia is experiencing winter. This is also supported by a low factor of water vapor content in the atmosphere. "One of the functions of this water is to absorb heat," he said. He explained that the reduction in water vapor in the dry season had an impact on the heat from the earth's surface which was released at night directly off to a higher layer. Therefore, no heat was stored near the earth's surface, so in the morning the air would feel colder.

Furthermore, he explained that topography and geographical position also affect the temperature in that place. Hillsy areas, will have different air temperatures or climatic conditions to areas that are open plains. High temperatures will have lower temperatures than lower places. "The Ruteng city, which is higher in topography than Labuan Bajo, noted that the minimum temperature of the last two days reached eight degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature in Labuan Bajo was still around 20-21 degrees Celsius," he said. He said this cold temperature phenomenon is expected to last until August 2024.