DIY Will Create Artificial Rain Using BNPB Aircraft

A resident took the remaining water that was still flowing in Telaga Tritis, Ngestirejo, Tanjungsari, Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta, Saturday (1/9). PHOTO BETWEEN/Sigid Kurniawan/nz//pri.

YOGYAKARTA - The Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of the Special Region of Yogyakarta will carry out weather modification (TMC) technology or artificial rain to overcome drought in this province using aircraft from the National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB).

Head of the DIY BPBD Emergency Handling Division, Edhy Hartana, said that the weather modification was a follow-up effort after the Drought Disaster Emergency Alert Status was set in DIY as of August 1, 2024.

"We are working with BNPB regarding the modification of the weather. Later we will make artificial rain by sprinkling salt in the clouds," he said as quoted by ANTARA, Thursday, August 8.

He said related to the number of aircraft to be used and the right time for the implementation of weather modifications was still being discussed with BNPB.

Because, he said, without high humidity clouds in the DIY sky being found, modifications of the weather could not be realized.

"We see the weather, or conditions too. Making artificial rain, if not clouds, we can't, so we'll see where the clouds are in, it must be considered," he said.

According to him, the implementation of fully weather modifications will use ready-to-use funds (DSP) from BNPB.

Edhy said that of the five regencies/cities in DIY, Gunungkidul Regency will be the first target of the weather modification technology program because it is considered the area most affected by drought.

Of the 1,000 clean water tanks prepared in Gunungkidul, he said, up to about 500 tanks or 50 percent of the supplies have been distributed to meet the needs of the community.

"Currently, the ones who ask for the most water 'dropping' are in Gunungkidul. The 500 tanks that come out of BPBD, but those from our sub-districts cannot record yet," he said.

Head of the Yogyakarta BMKG Climatology Station, Reni Kraningtyas, supports the weather modification plan considering that August is the peak of the dry season and most of the DIY area has experienced a long category of rainless (HTH) since the second basis of June 2024.

Even though the current phenomenon of la Nina also appears, he said the category is weak so it does not significantly rain in DIY.

In addition, according to him, August is the right moment for the implementation of weather modifications because there are still convective clouds needed to create artificial rain.

"We predict that the rainfall in August will range from 0 to 50 millimeters. It is indeed smaller than September but there are still rain clouds so that the weather modifications can still be possible," said Reni.

Previously, the Governor of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, established a Drought Disaster Emergency Alert Status which was in effect from August 1 to August 31, 2024.

This status can be extended if the drought in this area continues.