By Nik Nurfaqih Nik Wil
JAKARTA, Indonesia: Indonesia’s weather modification operations (OMC) to tackle forest and land fires are facing constraints from limited suitable clouds in parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra, as authorities continue efforts to contain fires across six priority provinces.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency’s (BNPB) Acting Head of the Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre, Berton Panjaitan, said OMC could not be conducted in South Kalimantan due to the absence of suitable clouds, while similar operations in Jambi were also unlikely amid forecasts indicating no potential cloud growth through September 10.
In West Kalimantan, OMC was limited by relatively low cloud availability, although 800 kilogrammes of seeding material was dispersed, the same amount used during an operation in Central Kalimantan.
“We did not conduct too many operations because the situation and conditions did not permit it, with relatively few suitable clouds available in West Kalimantan,” he told an online press conference on Thursday.
In Riau, 2,000 kg of salt was dispersed, helping induce light to moderate rain in Rokan Hulu, Rokan Hilir, Dumai and parts of Bengkalis.
The operations form part of wider efforts to contain fires across the six priority provinces, where BNPB recorded 182 fire spots, comprising 72 in Central Kalimantan, 46 in West Kalimantan, 31 in South Kalimantan, 20 in South Sumatra, seven in Jambi and six in Riau.
Air pollution remained hazardous in parts of Kalimantan, with the Air Pollutant Standard Index (ISPU) in Southeast Pontianak, West Kalimantan, reaching 1,026 at 7.28 pm Thursday, the highest reading recorded at monitoring stations nationwide.
Six other locations in Central Kalimantan recorded ISPU readings above 300, which is classified as hazardous.
Berton said the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency’s (BMKG) pollutant dispersion forecast showed dense concentrations over West, Central and South Kalimantan as well as parts of Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra today, although conditions over the three Kalimantan provinces were expected to ease on Friday.
The haze has also affected neighbouring Malaysia, with Serian in Sarawak recording a hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 345 at 9:30 am Thursday, while Sri Aman, Kuching, Samarahan and Sarikei were at very unhealthy levels.
Sarawak also began a three-day cloud-seeding operation today targeting key dams and water catchment areas, with Deputy Premier, Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, saying the operations were also aimed at reducing the haze and would depend on suitable clouds and favourable atmospheric conditions. – BERNAMA
