BMKG Runs Weather Modification in New Capital for VVIP Airport, Toll Roads Construction
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29 July 2024 21:14 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) will conduct weather modification in the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) to facilitate the construction of the VVIP Airport and toll roads.
"The weather modification operation is intended to support the acceleration of infrastructure development (in IKN)," said BMKG Head Dwikorita Karnawati in a written statement, on Monday, July 29, 2024.
The IKN toll road construction is sped up as it will be utilized next month to facilitate the celebration of Indonesia’s 79th Independence Day in the new capital city. Rainfall is moderated to avoid interfering with worker activities so the construction can be completed on schedule.
Weather modification has been applied multiple times in the new capital since June 2024.
Implemented in many regions across Indonesia, weather modification is also intended to overcome forest fires and has been included as a disaster mitigation effort since 2015.
"Weather modification is conducted by filling up the peat dome,” she explained.
Based on data from the Peatland Water Monitoring Agency (SIPALAGA), Dwikorita said the water level in peatland soil must be above 40 centimeters.
Specifically in IKN, BMKG’s Acting Deputy for Weather Modification at, Tri Handoko Seto, said his team is targeting rainfall-prone areas by cloud seeding in upwind areas. "So rain clouds don’t enter the target area," he said.
"Forest fire area in Indonesia has declined 29.6 percent compared to 2019,” he explained, adding that carbon emissions from forest fires were down 70.7 percent in the same period.
ALIF ILHAM FAJRIADI
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