Facing El Niño, BMKG Intensifies Weather Modification Operations Across Several Regions
The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is carrying out weather modification operations to maintain water availability in a number of regions as an anticipatory step ahead of the dry season, which coincides with El Nino.
After attending the National Dialogue on the Impact of El Nino at the office of the Ministry of National Development Planning/National Development Planning Agency (Bappenas) in Jakarta on Tuesday (4/8/2026), BMKG Deputy for Weather Modification Tri Handoko Seto said the reduction in rainfall caused by El Nino could lead to a decline in the water supply flowing into reservoirs across Indonesia.
Yet these reservoirs play a vital role in meeting the needs of raw water, agriculture, and hydropower plants (PLTA).
“Therefore, BMKG is working together with stakeholders, reservoir operators, the Ministry of Public Works, and other relevant parties to carry out weather modification operations to replenish reservoir water supplies,” said Tri.
He explained that weather modification operations had already been carried out in several regions to support water availability, including in catchment areas that sustain the energy sector, such as Lake Toba in North Sumatra and Lake Poso in Central Sulawesi.
“We are currently conducting an operation in the Citarum river basin (DAS) in West Java so that energy supplies, water, and agricultural needs can be properly maintained,” he said.
Tri said the weather modification operations also serve as one of the mitigation measures against forest and land fires (karhutla) amid drier dry-season conditions.
According to him, reduced rainfall causes the water supply to peat domes to fall, whilst evaporation continues, making peatlands drier and more susceptible to burning.
“For mitigation purposes, weather modification operations are also being carried out using the peatland wetting method, so that the land remains wet and is difficult to ignite, let alone burn,” he said.