WEATHER MODIFICATION OPERATION (OMC) or formerly known as TMC or artificial rain to anticipate forest and land fires (Karhutla) in Riau is currently being carried out by the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) and the Peat and Mangrove Restoration Agency (BRGM). The OMC activity is planned to last for 8 days, namely from June 26 to July 3, 2024.
In its implementation, the OMC cloud seeding flight in Riau Province was supported by 1 Casa 212-400 A-2116 aircraft operated by the TNI AU Squadron 4 flight crew.
The Riau Province OMC Field Coordinator from BMKG Bayu Prayoga said that the cloud seeding flights carried out by BMKG always take into account the weather dynamics on each day of implementation.
“For cloud seeding flights, we always analyze the weather conditions on that day. The results of the daily weather analysis will be our input in planning the target of the cloud seeding flight,” Bayu said in a statement received by Media Indonesia, Saturday (29/6).
He explained that the OMC activity planned to be carried out for 8 days. The activity is indeed focused on conducting cloud seeding.
“So that it can help increase rainfall in areas with peat land cover in Riau Province, such as Rokan Hilir Regency, Bengkalis Regency, Meranti Islands Regency, Siak Regency, Pelalawan Regency, and Indragiri Hilir Regency,” he explained.
Also read: TMC Karhutla Riau Artificial Rain Ends, Uses 10.4 Tons of Salt
As a region with the largest peatland cover in Indonesia and vulnerable to forest and land fires, Riau Province continues to receive attention from the Central Government and Regional Governments in efforts to control forest and land fires.
So far, BRGM together with BMKG, supported by stakeholders related to forest and land fires such as KLHK, TNI AU, BPBD Riau Province, and the Riau Provincial Government. The OMC aims to Wet Peatlands in Riau Province as one of the anticipatory steps for forest and land fires, especially ahead of the peak of the dry season.
Head of Riau Peat Restoration Working Group Sarjono Budi revealed that OMC has become one of the routine efforts in forest and land fire prevention efforts in peatlands.
Also read: TMC Artificial Rain for Riau Forest and Land Fires to be Held Again Next Week
“Peat ecosystems need to be maintained to stay wet. Through weather modification, it is hoped that the resulting rain can contribute to wetting peatlands. Especially entering the peak of the dry season in Riau Province,” explained Budi.
Meanwhile, Endarwin, representing the Deputy for Weather Modification, explained that OMC is focused on peatland areas in Riau Province.
“In essence, the weather modification that BMKG does aims to optimize potential clouds to become rain on peatlands. So that by wetting the peat due to rain, the potential for the emergence of hotspots and the level of ease of peatlands burning as well as the potential for the spread of burning areas can be reduced,” said Endarwin.
(Z-9)
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