By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Sept 4: Indonesia’s weather modification operations (OMC) to tackle forest and land fires are facing constraints due to limited suitable cloud formation in parts of Kalimantan and Sumatra, as authorities continue efforts to contain fires across six priority provinces.
National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) acting head of the Data, Information and Disaster Communication Centre Berton Panjaitan said OMC could not be carried out in South Kalimantan due to a lack of suitable clouds, while similar operations in Jambi were unlikely amid forecasts showing no potential for cloud growth through Sept 10.
In West Kalimantan, OMC was also constrained by limited cloud availability, although 800 kilogrammes of seeding material was dispersed. The same amount was 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 said during an online press conference in Jakarta on Thursday (Sept 3).
In Riau, 2,000 kg of salt was dispersed, helping to induce light to moderate rain in Rokan Hulu, Rokan Hilir, Dumai and parts of Bengkalis.
The operations are part of wider efforts to contain fires across six priority provinces, where BNPB recorded 182 fire hotspots, 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 at hazardous levels in parts of Kalimantan, with the Air Pollutant Standard Index (ISPU) in Southeast Pontianak, West Kalimantan, reaching 1,026 at 7.28pm Thursday, which was the highest reading recorded at monitoring stations nationwide.
Six other locations in Central Kalimantan also recorded ISPU readings above 300, a level classified as hazardous.
Berton said the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) pollutant dispersion forecast showed dense concentrations over West, Central and South Kalimantan, as well as parts of Riau, Jambi and South Sumatra on Thursday.
However, conditions over the three Kalimantan provinces were expected to ease on Friday (Sept 4), he said.
The haze has also affected neighbouring Malaysia, with Serian in Sarawak recording a very hazardous Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 518 at 10am today. Sri Aman, Kuching, Samarahan and Sarikei recorded “hazardous” and “very unhealthy” API readings.
Sarawak also began a three-day cloud-seeding operation yesterday, targeting key dams and water catchment areas.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the operation was also aimed at reducing the impact of the haze, but its effectiveness would depend on the availability of suitable clouds and favourable atmospheric conditions. — Bernama
