“Weather modification operations are an important intervention in wildfire handling; they are particularly needed to help wet peatland and support ground suppression teams,” said the ministry’s Director of Land Fire Control, Dasrul Chaniago in a statement received here on Saturday.
According to Chaniago, such operations must proceed hand in hand with patrols, hotspot mapping, ground containment efforts, peatland wetting, water management enhancement, public involvement, corporate oversight, and law enforcement.
Reporting on the progress of the weather modification, Chaniago said that the government dispersed 8,000 kilograms of sodium chloride (NaCl) into the atmosphere over West Kalimantan to induce rainfall through 10 sorties between Aug. 28 and Sept. 4.
Similarly, nine sorties released 7.2 tons of NaCl into the sky over Central Kalimantan between Aug. 26 and Sept. 2. The operations in the province continued into Saturday.
He added that each sortie was guided by analyses of atmospheric conditions, cloud formation potential, wind direction and speed, hotspot saturation, and land-wetting needs in fire-prone areas to ensure optimal outcomes.
On Sept. 4, he continued, rainfall was reported in Kapuas Hulu and Kubu Raya districts, as well as Pontianak City in West Kalimantan. Meanwhile, Central Kalimantan saw rain in West Kotawaringin District.
Chaniago attributed the success to the ministry’s collaboration with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), the National Agency for Disaster Countermeasures (BNPB), the Forestry Ministry, the Indonesian Air Force, and regional governments.
He emphasized that the Environment Ministry would continue conducting cloud-seeding efforts through Sept. 14 in Kalimantan.
“Operations will continue, and vigilance must not wane. Our primary objective is to prevent wildfires from spreading, protect public health, maintain air quality, and ensure that wildfire control proceeds in a quick, integrated, and continued manner,” he concluded.
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Translator: P.T. Violleta, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: Bayu Prasetyo
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