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)