InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA – Geophysics, Climatology, Meteorology Agency (GCMA) warned the latest one about the 2024 draught by the latest of July. The agency mentioned that the climate in Indonesia would be very critical. Even though El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) are in neutral condition, GCMA predicted that 50 - 60% ENSO would be heading to La Niña that started in August or September 2024. This could indicate, the wet climate could happen by the last days of dry season and would las until March 2024.
In the official documents of GCMA to President of Indonesian Republic Number B/KL.00.02/004/KB/VIII/2024 on 5 August 2024 that InfoSAWIT got, GCMA reported that the extreme no day raining took place in some provinces, such as, Central Java, East Java, Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB), and Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) such as in Naoini, Tenau, Futubena, and Mapoli. No day raining could be up to 102 to 103 days. Besides, the rare rainy days, or less than 20 millimeters (mm) per base, also happened in Sumatera, Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara. This would be a worry that the drought would massively get wider.
“GCMA predicted that the rare rainy days would dominate many regions in southern Indonesia until the late of September 2024. The regions, such as, southern Sumatera, Java, Bali, and Nusa Tenggara would be in rare rainy days monthly or less than 50 mm per month. This would need special attention to anticipate the impacts for having something to do with agriculture and water availability,” the documents noted, Saturday (17/8/2024).
Even though some regions would be in dry, some others within equatorial climate characteristic, namely around the Equator could be in highly rainy days in August -September 2024 such as, North Sumatera, West Sumatera, Bengkulu, Maluku, and West Papua. The rain could be more than 300 mm per month and could make flood in the regions.
To face the situation, GCMA recommended some to be aware of. The first, the people should be aware of the fire potential in the forests and areas, namely in peat that might be vulnerably in drought. The second, the farmers/smallholders should adjust the food and horticulture planting system based on the weather. GCMA did recommend to continue operasi modifikasi cuaca (OMC) to fill up the reservoirs and increase land water surface where the regions are vulnerably in drought.
The agency emphasized that it would be significant to get information about climate and weather regularly through the canals available, such as, the official page of GCMA, infoBMKG, social media, and call center - 196. GCMA and other 196 stations in Indonesia would be prepared to get 24/7 work to coordinate with the regional governments and other parties to adapt and mitigate the 2024 dry season.
For the complex situation, GCMA would need the further instruction from the president to confirm the preparedness to face drought impact potential nationally. (T2)
