BNPB conducts weather modification operations over Jambi

Jambi City (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is conducting Weather Modification Operations (OMC) in Jambi as a measure to minimise the threat of forest and land fires (karhutla) in the area. “Yes, (rain) occurred yesterday (7/6) assisted by the OMC programme,” stated the Head of the Jambi Provincial Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Bachyuni Deliansyah, in Jambi City on Monday.

He explained that the weather modification programme has been underway since Saturday (6/6) and is planned to run until Thursday (12/6). According to data from weather analysts (Flight Scientists) at the Jambi Forest Fire Air Sub-Task Force Post, the seeding of 999 kilograms of salt (NaCl) began on Friday (5/6) between 16:30 and 18:00 WIB in Tanjung Jabung Timur, Tanjung Jabung Barat, and Muaro Jambi.

The seeding altitude was approximately 1,000 feet, utilising a Cessna aircraft (PK-ALA). A second seeding session took place on Sunday (7/6) from 10:48 to 12:25 WIB, using the same aircraft and salt quantity, covering Tanjung Jabung Timur and Muaro Jambi. A third session was conducted on the same day from 12:57 to 14:43 WIB in the Tanjung Jabung Timur and Tanjung Jabung Barat areas. On Monday (8/6), salt seeding was carried out in two locations across Tanjung Jabung Timur and Muaro Jambi.

The Head of the BMKG Sultan Thaha Jambi team, Jaya Martua Sinaga, confirmed that the potential for natural rain is being supported by the ongoing OMC in Jambi. Based on monitoring atmospheric dynamics, significant potential for rain cloud growth has been detected in the province. He noted that the weather modification activity is a planned programme that has been running since late May and is scheduled to continue until 12 June. “The OMC activity is interconnected with existing atmospheric dynamics; the intervention from the OMC helps support and increase the potential for rainfall in Jambi,” he added.