"The non-stop 24-hour OMC is the first in Indonesia and in the world," Acting Deputy for Weather Modification at BMKG, Tri Handoko Seto, stated on Friday.
He explained that the weather modification aims to support the acceleration of development in IKN's several supporting infrastructures, including the Presidential Palace, the IKN VVIP Airport, and the toll road to the IKN central government area (KIPP).
"Including supporting the readiness for all state activities, including the Independence Day ceremony on August 17," Seto remarked.
The team from BMKG recorded normal rainfall data for 30 years (1991-2020) and gained an understanding of the rainfall pattern in IKN, which is characterized by rain with an intensity of above 150 mm per month throughout the year.
Based on observation, rains can also occur in the morning, afternoon, evening, and early morning in IKN.
Based on these records, the BMKG assessed the need to increase the OMC, which was earlier carried out in the morning and afternoon, to be conducted for up to 24 hours, Seto remarked.
"If it rains all day, the main infrastructure development process in the IKN will not run optimally," he stated.
Related news: Weather modification supporting construction work at IKN: BNPB
He explained that during the July 4-18 period, the OMC success ratio had reached 70 percent, with 29 hours of rain out of a total of 186 operational hours.
During the next period, namely from July 19 to August 2, the success ratio reached 97 percent, with six hours of rain out of a total of 354 operational hours.
Seto said the weather modification operation was conducted for 24 hours non-stop to reduce the potential for rain in the IKN area.
The BMKG weather modification operation was centered at the APT Pranoto Samarinda Airport by flying out two Cessna Caravan 208B aircraft, with the codes PK-SNG and PK SNK, belonging to Smart Cakrawala Aviation to intercept rain clouds entering the IKN area.
From the weather modification operation in the IKN, around 213 flight sorties have been seeded, and 200 tons of Sodium Chloride (NaCl) and CaO have been sprayed over cumulus rain clouds, Seto remarked.
Related news: Four weather modification airplanes used to support IKN airport work
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Translator: M. Riezko Bima, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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