TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) will start the weather modification operation to fill 35 reservoirs in Java from today, May 30 to June 10, to ensure water supply, especially in agricultural irrigation networks. Four support posts have been prepared, located in Jakarta, Bandung, Solo and Surabaya.

"Each post will be responsible for filling reservoirs located within the post's coverage area," BMKG head Dwikorita Karnawati said in a written statement on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

The operation, also known as artificial rain, will use four CASA 212 aircraft from the Indonesian Air Force, which will depart from the Abdul Rahman Saleh Airfield in Malang.

According to Dwikorita, the operation is also in line with the directive of the Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), who plans to make it a pilot project for the weather modification operations in all reservoirs in Indonesia. " In support of the government's food security program."

The BMKG said that a number of islands in Indonesia have the potential to experience drought in the dry season, especially Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, which have already experienced quite a long period of days without rain. However, there is still an opportunity for the growth of rain clouds that can be used with weather modification technology to mitigate and anticipate the peak of the dry season.

Weather modification operations, according to BMKG, must be carried out to optimize the growth of rain clouds during the transition period to fill water reservoirs or dams in areas that have the potential to experience drought.

In preparation, BMKG is working with the Ministry of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR), the National Innovation Research Agency (BRIN), and the Indonesian Air Force.

TEMPO.CO

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