Banjarbaru, S Kalimantan (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Air Force base in Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, is supporting cloud-seeding operations by dispersing three tons of sodium chloride, or salt, into clouds to trigger rainfall.
“The operation involves three flights, with each sortie carrying one ton of seeding material,” Colonel Hilman LP Ambarita, commander of Sjamsudin Noor Air Base, said here Tuesday.
The seeding flights, conducted by the National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), are based on weather conditions and cloud development over target areas.
Given available atmospheric conditions, the seeding material is released at locations and times considered suitable to support rainfall over the operational area.
Hilman said cloud seeding is part of efforts to tackle forest and land fires in South Kalimantan.
Aerial seeding that began Saturday has produced rainfall in several areas, including Tanah Bumbu, Hulu Sungai Tengah, Hulu Sungai Utara, Balangan, and Tabalong districts, he said.
Sjamsudin Noor Air Base will continue supporting cloud-seeding operations as needed, ensuring personnel, facilities, and other resources remain ready for coordinated and safe missions.
Hilman said cloud seeding is part of an integrated approach to fighting forest and land fires, alongside ground firefighting and prevention efforts requiring coordination among multiple agencies.
The operation is expected to help reduce the impact of forest and land fires while protecting communities and preserving the environment, he said.
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Translator: Firman, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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