Jakarta – Increasing air temperatures and extreme imbalances in rainfall patterns are worsening Indonesia’s water resources condition. In response to this situation, the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) invites all elements of society to take concrete steps through smart water management and sustainable river restoration.
The head of BMKG, Dwikorita Karnawati, in her online presentation at an event organised by the Vocational School of Universitas Gadjah Mada (SV UGM) and the Indonesian River Restoration Movement (GRSI) on Thursday, 8 May, said that climate change is no longer abstract. Its impact is now real, directly affecting surface and groundwater availability.
“Our data shows that the national average temperature throughout 2024 will reach 27.52°C with a positive anomaly of 0.81°C compared to the climatological average of 1991-2020,” said Dwikorita.
She added that this temperature spike occurs evenly throughout Indonesia and significantly impacts the national hydrological cycle. One of the most crucial consequences is the increasing frequency of droughts during the dry season, while rainfall tends to spike in the wet season, increasing the risk of flooding.
Extreme seasons, scarce water
BMKG predicts that the dry season will become longer and drier in the next three decades. In contrast, the rainy season will experience intensification of rainfall in a shorter period of time. This condition creates a paradox: water is abundant but unavailable when needed.
Dwikorita explained that a good water management system requires integration between climate information, hydrological data, and the region’s geological characteristics. In this case, BMKG has combined hydrometeorological data with data from the Ministry of PUPR and the Geological Agency to analyse predictions comprehensively.
BMKG stated that it has provided various predictive information services, ranging from monthly and seasonal rainfall forecasts to extreme climate early warnings. These services are publicly accessible and designed to support local decisions, especially regarding water conservation and rainwater harvesting planning.
Ending her presentation, Dwikorita invited all Indonesians from Sabang to Merauke to protect the water ecosystem collectively. “Let’s protect water, preserve forests, rivers, and beaches. If we protect nature, then nature will protect us,” he concluded. (Hartatik)
Banner photo: Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL·E via ChatGPT (2024)
