Mr. Anies Must Know! Sea Level Rise And Land Subsidence Accelerates The Sinking Of Jakarta

Illustration (Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Eddy Hermawan, a research professor in the field of Meteorology at the Aviation and Space Research Organization of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), said that land subsidence and sea level rise accelerated the sinking of a number of points in Jakarta and the northern coast of Java.

"Sea level rise combined with land subsidence will have a more serious impact. If it is only sea level rise or only land subsidence, the resulting impact is not as great as if both occur simultaneously or simultaneously," said Eddy in National Webinar Prof Talk:Is it true that Jakarta and Pantura will sink? in Jakarta, Antara, Wednesday, October 6.

The projected submergence of several locations in Jakarta and several coastal cities along the Pantura is due to three main factors. First, climate change that leads to sea level rise, land subsidence, and finally local local conditions.

According to him, if you only look at each independent factor, namely a sea level rise of around 3-10 mm per year or a land subsidence of around 6-100 mm per year, it will not have as severe an impact as feared that Jakarta will sink.

However, if these two factors combine into one and take place simultaneously and continuously, it will have a very serious impact on urban areas located in coastal areas or on the coast because they are threatened with being submerged or submerged.

"If the projection is only focused on the effects of climate change, the impact will not be too heavy. The same thing is also found, if the projection is focused only on land subsidence, then the analysis cannot be used on a global/regional scale," said Eddy.

Eddy said the projection was focused on the results of the combined analysis of the impact of global climate change and the current rapid rate of land subsidence.

"These two projections are strongly suspected to accelerate the sinking of coastal cities in the Pantura, including Jakarta in the future," he said.

Eddy said the results of the latest satellite data analysis showed that the coastal area of Pantura experienced the sharpest land subsidence.

The geological condition of the coastal area with soft soil naturally makes the land continue to fall. However, with the rise in sea levels due to climate change, the use of groundwater, as well as the construction of magnificent and luxurious buildings along the northern coast, it turns out that the subsidence of the land surface is getting worse.

Therefore, Eddy said it was necessary to monitor land subsidence and the rate of shoreline change due to changes in sea level. This condition is different from the southern region of Java, where the geological structure tends to be hilly.

Eddy said that in the future, more concrete prevention efforts need to be made. The construction of a giant embankment does not seem to be enough, but it must be balanced with policies on the use of ground water, planting mangroves, and preventing environmental damage that must be carried out immediately.

"It will be more effective if this effort is carried out by various elements of society, without exception," said Eddy.