Artificial Rain Difficult to Produce in Jakarta, Pramono Asks Fire Service to Spray Streets
The Provincial Government of DKI Jakarta is undertaking mitigation measures to address weather conditions during the dry season. However, Weather Modification Operations (OMC) are currently constrained by the minimal availability of clouds in the atmosphere, which is the primary requirement for artificial rain intervention.
Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung stated that he has repeatedly instructed the Jakarta Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) to carry out weather modification. However, current atmospheric conditions do not yet permit the implementation of OMC.
“Because up to today, frankly, there are no clouds. I have repeatedly ordered BPBD to immediately carry out weather modification, but because there are no clouds, it cannot rain,” said Pramono at City Hall on Wednesday (19/8).
According to him, the regional government is continuing to implement mitigation measures to reduce the impact of hot and dry conditions. One such measure involves water spraying using equipment owned by the Jakarta Fire and Rescue Service (Gulkarmat).
Pramono noted that this measure has been carried out over the past few days. Water spraying serves as a temporary effort to help reduce the impact of weather conditions in several areas.
“As was done by the Fire Service and others a few days ago, they used their equipment to spread water to reduce this,” he said.
Nevertheless, Pramono emphasised that weather conditions are a natural factor that cannot be fully controlled by the government. Therefore, interventions are carried out by considering scientifically viable conditions.
“Once again, this is certainly a given situation. The DKI Jakarta Provincial Government continues to strive to modify the weather,” he said.
Pramono assured that OMC will be carried out immediately once cloud conditions meet the requirements. According to him, weather modification can only be scientifically conducted when there are clouds that can be intervened.
“Weather modification can be done in scientific conditions as long as there are clouds; we will certainly carry it out immediately,” he concluded.