TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) is ramping up weather modification efforts to reduce the risk of hydrometeorological disasters in Jakarta and its surrounding areas.
Deputy for Weather Modification at BMKG, Tri Handoko Seto, said that the joint personnel are working to reduce rainfall in the catchment areas of the Ciliwung and Cisadane rivers, from the upstream in Bogor to the downstream in Jakarta and Bekasi. Heavy rain clouds will be dispersed over the sea before reaching the land.
"Meanwhile, clouds forming over the land are being seeded to disrupt their growth and reduce rainfall," said Tri Handoko Seto in a written statement on Thursday, March 6, 2025.
According to Seto, the weather engineering that started on Wednesday, March 5, will continue until March 8. This plan may still change according to the latest weather forecast. On Thursday morning, the joint team also discussed additional weather modification implementation plans to be funded by the Jakarta Provincial Government.
Reflecting on previous experiences, Seto mentioned that weather modification in Jakarta reduced rainfall 30-60 percent in large rain clouds. "Thus, it is expected that the risk of flooding in the affected areas can be reduced."
The Head of BMKG, Dwikorita Karnawati, ensured that weather modification is always carried out based on accurate data and atmospheric analysis. In weather modification, BMKG provides weather data, designs operational strategies, determines seeding locations, and monitors atmospheric conditions in real-time to ensure the effectiveness of weather interventions.
"Weather Modification Operations are not just about sowing salt into the sky, but require precise atmospheric modeling to ensure the interventions are truly effective," she said in the same written statement.
Dwikorita guarantees that every BMKG recommendation is based on the latest meteorological data and precise scientific calculations. During operations, the BMKG team determines the timing and flight routes of aircraft, as well as the seeding materials to be used.
For effectiveness, she continued, seeding must be done at the most optimal time and location. The BMKG team is on standby 24 hours a day for monitoring purposes.
"Every intervention in WM must be based on precise data. If not, this effort could be futile or even worsen the weather conditions in other regions," said Dwikorita.
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