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El Nino's Long Reach: Jakarta's Extended Dry Season and Air Quality Woes


Udara Jakarta
Jakarta's Bad Quality Air (shutterstock.com)

The prolonged dry season in Jakarta and its surrounding areas, triggered by the El Nino phenomenon, has brought about significant consequences for the region. This article delves into the impacts of the extended dry season, the government's efforts to address the crisis, and future weather projections for the area.


Lack of Water and Jakarta's Air Quality, Prolonged Dry Season :

The lingering dry season induced by El Nino has had tangible effects on Jakarta and its environs. One of the most keenly felt impacts has been the scarcity of clean water supply. Many residents of the capital city find themselves transporting water from distant locations to meet their daily needs. Additionally, the air quality in Jakarta continues to deteriorate with each passing day. Data from the IQAir air quality monitoring platform reveals that Jakarta's daily average air quality index (AQI US) reached 156 points on Tuesday, October 24, 2023. This serves as a grave warning of health risks for the population of Jakarta.


Government Measures in Addressing Water and Air Crisis:

The Jakarta government has undertaken various measures to combat the crisis from the prolonged dry season. One such action involves conducting "cloud seeding" using a CaCl2 solution. In September, the Depok and South Tangerang regions received 1,500 litres of CaCl2 solution. This step triggered rainfall and alleviated the drought plaguing the area.


BMKG Estimates and Hopes for the Future:

On October 25, 2023, Jakarta experienced natural rainfall. This event reinforces the estimates of the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), which indicated that El Nino would persist until the end of October. This also marks the end of the prolonged dry spell that had gripped Jakarta. Despite the natural rainfall, Jakarta's air quality has not improved substantially. The latest data from Wednesday, October 25, 2023, indicates that the air quality in Jakarta reached 164 points. This underscores that air quality issues are tied to the dry season and other urban environmental factors.


Future Projections:

BMKG projects that Indonesia will experience the peak of the rainy season in February 2024. This outlook brings a sigh of relief to the residents of Jakarta, who have long awaited nature's assistance. However, challenges related to air quality and clean water supply remain the government's primary focus in managing the impacts of the El Nino phenomenon. With collaborative efforts from the government, relevant institutions, and the community, it is hoped that Jakarta can tackle these environmental challenges and prepare itself for future climate changes.

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