Scientist slams decision on 'El Nino'<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A leading researcher has blasted the government
\nover its decision to block an international project studying the
\nsecrets of the El Nino phenomenon, which has disrupted the
\nweather pattern in the Asia-Pacific region over the past two
\ndecades.<\/p>\n
Suharsono, head of the Oceanography Research and Development
\nCenter at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said the decision
\nshows the government is \"allergic\" to ocean studies.<\/p>\n
\"As a scientist, I'm disappointed,\" Suharsono told reporters
\non Thursday.<\/p>\n
He recalled that Indonesia has felt the impact of El Nino as
\nfar back as 1983, when all coral reefs located 15 meters or more
\nbelow the Java Sea died because of an increase in temperature
\ncaused by El Nino.<\/p>\n
\"I was involved in measuring the temperature,\" said Suharsono,
\nwho is also an expert on coral reefs.<\/p>\n
News that the project had been stopped surfaced in Canberra
\nlast week.<\/p>\n
Australian officials reportedly said that they were \"very
\ndisappointed\" that their research vessel was twice forced to
\nabandon missions into Indonesian territorial waters because of
\nJakarta's refusal, or failure, to approve the ship's entry.<\/p>\n
The officials said Indonesia refused permission on the grounds
\nthat they had not followed correct procedures in their
\napplication, AFP reported. However, others have said that there
\nwere also fears in Jakarta that the vessel was on a spy mission.<\/p>\n
The study, by Australian and U.S. scientists in collaboration
\nwith Indonesian researchers, is considered vital to Australia's
\ninterests because of the impact the El Nino phenomenon has had on
\nAustralia's economy in recent years.<\/p>\n
Suharsono admitted that he was puzzled by the Indonesian
\ngovernment's rejection.<\/p>\n
He speculated that because the research would include
\nmeasuring the water mass, depth, and flow pattern, it might
\nentail national security matters.<\/p>\n
He said that the decision follows a similar pattern by the
\ngovernment when it comes to oceanography.<\/p>\n
\"From a long time ago, for some unknown reasons, our
\ngovernment has shown to be allergic to any kind of research
\nconnected with oceanography,\" he said. \"I don't know the
\nreasons.\"<\/p>\n
He noted that Indonesian oceanography research is trailing far
\nbehind other studies.<\/p>\n
El Nino is an oceanic current that moves along the equator in
\nthe Pacific Ocean, starting at the west coast of South America,
\nmoving to the Indonesian archipelago, and then returning to South
\nAmerica within 10 to 15 years.<\/p>\n
\"How it is formed, or what factors formed it, still needs to
\nbe studied and researched. Experts are still debating the
\nquestions,\" Suharsono said.<\/p>\n
The impact of El Nino can alter the weather condition in the
\nregions which are close to El Nino, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The phenomena can prolong droughts, or prolong rainy seasons,
\ncause floods, or reduce or increase fish population, to name a
\nfew,\" Suharsono said.<\/p>\n
The scientist said he was particularly concern about the
\nimpact of El Nino on Indonesia's coral reefs because most have
\neither been destroyed or damaged and will take a long time to be
\nrestored to their original condition.<\/p>\n
\"From the 55,000 kilometers to 65,000 kilometers of coral reef
\nfound in Indonesian waters, only 6.5 percent are in perfect
\ncondition,\" he said. Another 20 percent can be said to be in
\nreasonably good condition, 33 percent in average condition, and
\n40 percent in bad condition, he said.<\/p>\n
Suharsono said the institute recently secured international
\nfunding for a project to rehabilitate coral reefs and their
\nmanagement, but the amount is not likely to reach the US$120
\nmillion it originally proposed.<\/p>\n
He said the World Bank and the Japan Environmental Fund have
\nagreed to finance the project and that the Indonesian government
\nwill contribute to the fund. (31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/scientist-slams-decision-on-el-nino-1447893297",
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