Jakarta – Experts from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) explained that extreme weather and some hydrometeorological disasters in Indonesia are significantly related to global warming.
Head of BRIN’s Climate and Atmosphere Research Center, Albertus Sulaeman, highlighted that global warming triggers the intensity and frequency of extreme weather, creating a complex causal phenomenon.
“Currently, extreme weather at sea triggers rouge waves, which are non-linear interactions of several atmospheric waves. This wave cannot be predicted and is a concern for fishermen,” he said, explaining the natural phenomenon of giant waves on the sea surface that appear suddenly and endanger ships.
Sulaeman emphasised the importance of research on this phenomenon with direct observation, especially installing ocean observations through drilling rigs that are no longer in operation.
Efforts to better understand extreme weather are expected to improve the accuracy of extreme weather predictions in the Indonesian region, becoming part of the mitigation and adaptation strategy to hydrometeorological disasters and climate change.
Head of BRIN’s Atmosphere-Sea Interaction and Climate Variability Research Group, Erma Yulihastin, underlined that the world has almost reached the temperature rise limit agreed in the 2015 Paris Agreement.
“The monthly global temperature increase has reached 1.76 degrees Celsius in September 2023, close to the desired limit of 2 degrees Celsius,” she said.
Researchers at BRIN highlighted that extreme weather, especially at sea, is closely related to weather and hydrodynamic parameters such as wind, ocean currents and ocean waves.
BRIN Oceanography Principal Researcher Widodo Setiyo Pranowo added that monsoon wind patterns directly impact currents and waves at sea level. “The stronger the wind, the current speed and wave height can increase,” he said.
Although Indonesia has a natural ‘shield’ at latitudes 5 degrees north and at latitudes 10 degrees south as protection from tropical cyclone wind trajectories, extreme waves remain challenging.
“Historical data and time series monitoring of winds, currents and ocean waves are critical. Collaboration between wave research by BRIN and wave forecasting by BMKG will improve the information the public needs,” said Pranowo, referring to the national meteorological and climatology agency. (Hartatik)
