Scientist slams decision on 'El Nino'
Scientist slams decision on 'El Nino'
JAKARTA (JP): A leading researcher has blasted the government over its decision to block an international project studying the secrets of the El Nino phenomenon, which has disrupted the weather pattern in the Asia-Pacific region over the past two decades.
Suharsono, head of the Oceanography Research and Development Center at the Indonesian Institute of Sciences, said the decision shows the government is "allergic" to ocean studies.
"As a scientist, I'm disappointed," Suharsono told reporters on Thursday.
He recalled that Indonesia has felt the impact of El Nino as far back as 1983, when all coral reefs located 15 meters or more below the Java Sea died because of an increase in temperature caused by El Nino.
"I was involved in measuring the temperature," said Suharsono, who is also an expert on coral reefs.
News that the project had been stopped surfaced in Canberra last week.
Australian officials reportedly said that they were "very disappointed" that their research vessel was twice forced to abandon missions into Indonesian territorial waters because of Jakarta's refusal, or failure, to approve the ship's entry.
The officials said Indonesia refused permission on the grounds that they had not followed correct procedures in their application, AFP reported. However, others have said that there were also fears in Jakarta that the vessel was on a spy mission.
The study, by Australian and U.S. scientists in collaboration with Indonesian researchers, is considered vital to Australia's interests because of the impact the El Nino phenomenon has had on Australia's economy in recent years.
Suharsono admitted that he was puzzled by the Indonesian government's rejection.
He speculated that because the research would include measuring the water mass, depth, and flow pattern, it might entail national security matters.
He said that the decision follows a similar pattern by the government when it comes to oceanography.
"From a long time ago, for some unknown reasons, our government has shown to be allergic to any kind of research connected with oceanography," he said. "I don't know the reasons."
He noted that Indonesian oceanography research is trailing far behind other studies.
El Nino is an oceanic current that moves along the equator in the Pacific Ocean, starting at the west coast of South America, moving to the Indonesian archipelago, and then returning to South America within 10 to 15 years.
"How it is formed, or what factors formed it, still needs to be studied and researched. Experts are still debating the questions," Suharsono said.
The impact of El Nino can alter the weather condition in the regions which are close to El Nino, he said.
"The phenomena can prolong droughts, or prolong rainy seasons, cause floods, or reduce or increase fish population, to name a few," Suharsono said.
The scientist said he was particularly concern about the impact of El Nino on Indonesia's coral reefs because most have either been destroyed or damaged and will take a long time to be restored to their original condition.
"From the 55,000 kilometers to 65,000 kilometers of coral reef found in Indonesian waters, only 6.5 percent are in perfect condition," he said. Another 20 percent can be said to be in reasonably good condition, 33 percent in average condition, and 40 percent in bad condition, he said.
Suharsono said the institute recently secured international funding for a project to rehabilitate coral reefs and their management, but the amount is not likely to reach the US$120 million it originally proposed.
He said the World Bank and the Japan Environmental Fund have agreed to finance the project and that the Indonesian government will contribute to the fund. (31)