BNPB: Weather Modification Operation in Central Java Extinguishes Wildfires and Clears Krakatau Volcanic Ash
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) has officially begun a Weather Modification Operation (OMC) in Central Java to extinguish forest and land fires whilst also clearing the spread of volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau.
Acting Head of BNPB’s Disaster Data, Information and Communication Centre, Berton SP Panjaitan, said in Jakarta on Monday that the weather intervention operation is centred at Ahmad Yani Air Base in Semarang, operating a Cessna aircraft registered PK-SNH.
“This step is taken to trigger artificial rain that effectively extinguishes hotspots, maintains soil moisture, and clears volcanic ash from the eruption of Mount Anak Krakatau so it does not spread, as well as minimising the risk of acute respiratory infections and reduced visibility,” he said.
Berton explained that the OMC was reinforced by the surge of forest and land fires across several areas of Central Java up to Sunday (6/9), including two hectares of land burned in Klaten Regency, four hectares in Sragen Regency, and 6.05 hectares across three districts in Banyumas Regency.
The inaugural flight mission (Sortie 1) was carried out on Monday afternoon, seeding 1,000 litres of seeding material comprising a mixture of water and Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) at an altitude of 9,000 feet above the coastal areas of Cilacap, Banyumas and Brebes.
The CaCl2 solution is focused on serving as cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) to accelerate the coalescence of water droplets in Cumulus clouds so they promptly fall as rain to wet the land and cleanse the atmosphere.
In addition to inducing artificial rain, BNPB has prepared a watermist spraying method mixed with surfactant to directly wash and bind volcanic ash pollutants in the air.
The National Disaster Management Agency (BNPB) is working closely with the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD) of Central Java Province to monitor cloud movement and ash distribution in real time, whilst urging residents to remain calm and wear masks when undertaking outdoor activities.