Snow In Puncak Jayawijaya Is Predicted To Run Out In 2026, BMKG Explains The Trigger

JAKARTA - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) of Moses Kilangin Meteorological Station, Mimika Regency, Central Papua Province, predicts snow in Puncak Jayawijaya will run out in 2026.

Meteorological Station BMKG forecaster Moses Kilangin Mimika Reza said the results of the latest research by the Central BMKG, the snow area in 2022 reached 0.23 square kilometers, shrinking by about 0.11 square kilometers to 0.16 square meters.

"The latest research shows that the melting of this snow is getting more significant, for only four meters of snow left," he said in Timika, Monday, December 16, which was confiscated by Antara.

In addition to climate change factors, he continued, high rainfall in the region has also affected the acceleration of snowfall, fall in area, and snow thickness has been observed over the past few years.

"In the past, dew and water vapor in Puncak Jayawijaya would freeze to snow, but now it rains more often in Puncak Jayawijaya, actually accelerating the disbursement of ice," he said.

He explained that other factors that helped accelerate the disbursement of hot snow from the surrounding mountain rocks, a combination of rain, rock heat and climate change, created a more aggressive melting process.

"So there are two main factors, namely the disbursement from above due to rain and disbursement from below due to rock heat and the impact of snow disbursement is predicted to be felt in the mountains and lowlands," he said.

He added that this research is an alarm for various parties to be more concerned about the impact of climate change, losing snow is not only an ecological loss but affects the ecosystem and life of the surrounding community.

"Hopefully with this information, the public can understand the current conditions and we will continue to monitor and provide the latest data related to this phenomenon," he concluded.