Weather Modification Operation Continues, IKN and Surrounding Areas Begin to Receive Rain
Rain has begun to fall over the Nusantara Capital City (IKN) area and surrounding regions in East Kalimantan (Kaltim). The rainfall is believed to be a result of the Weather Modification Operation (OMC) conducted as part of a mission to anticipate the impacts of El Niño, the dry season, drought, and the potential for forest and land fires that are beginning to be felt in the IKN area.
The operation, carried out by the IKN Authority together with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU), and several related agencies, is still ongoing. OMC is a science- and technology-based effort to optimise the potential for rain through cloud seeding.
Special Staff to the Head of the IKN Authority for Construction Management and Strategy, Danis Hidayat Sumadilaga, said on Monday (24/8) that the OMC is being carried out in a measured manner by considering atmospheric conditions so that the seeding material can be directed at clouds with the potential to produce rain.
The OMC has been underway since Friday (21/8) and continued through Monday (24/8). By 10.00 Wita, five flight sorties had been conducted using a Casa 212 A-2105 aircraft from the Dhomber Air Base Operations Headquarters in Balikpapan, carrying approximately 800 kilograms of seeding material in the form of sodium chloride (NaCl) on each sortie. The OMC is being conducted to maintain surface water availability in the IKN area and its surroundings.
He acknowledged that the IKN area is currently experiencing a dry season due to the impact of El Niño, which is occurring not only in East Kalimantan but throughout Indonesia and even the world. One of the impacts of El Niño is drought, and what needs to be anticipated is water availability.
“That is why we are trying to modify the weather to increase the surface water volume in the IKN area and its surroundings,” Danis explained.
Head of the BMKG SAMS Sepinggan Balikpapan Meteorological Station, Djoko Sumardiono, explained that the implementation of OMC is highly dependent on the growth of potential clouds. Therefore, cloud monitoring, wind direction and speed, and seeding timing are the main bases of the operation.
Regarding the current weather, he said that East Kalimantan has had almost no rain for two weeks. For this weather modification operation, cloud development today in the northern border of East Kalimantan is very good for conducting the operation.
“Historically, the success rate of OMC is around 30 per cent because this is a dry season with rare clouds,” Djoko concluded.
Based on the development of the OMC implementation up to Monday (24/8) at 10.00 Wita, rain has begun to be observed in several areas. Data from the Long Lebusan Rainfall Post, in the upstream area of the Mahakam River Basin, recorded rain in Mahakam Ulu Regency on Saturday (22/8) from 02.00 to 02.30 Wita with rainfall of approximately 20 millimetres. In addition, there were reports of rain also occurring in areas around Kutai Kartanegara.
In the IKN area, the water level at the Sepaku River intake, which is one of the raw water sources for IKN needs, has also increased. The water elevation, previously at +2.04 metres, rose to +2.05 metres, an increase of about 1 centimetre at 08.20 Wita, and is expected to continue rising.
Head of the East Kalimantan Provincial Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), Buyung Dodi Gunawan, said that the potential for forest and land fires still needs to be watched, so prevention and public education continue to be carried out.
“In August, there have been a total of 273 land fire incidents. The affected area is around 752 hectares based on the data we have received. Handling continues, including preventive efforts and public education, through a circular from the Ministry of Environment not to carry out land burning,” Buyung said on Saturday (22/8).
The IKN Authority and related agencies will continue to monitor weather developments, potential rain clouds, and hydrological conditions in the IKN area and its surroundings. The next OMC implementation will be adjusted to atmospheric dynamics and the availability of clouds that meet the seeding criteria.