JAKARTA – A number of areas in Indonesia are threatened with extreme weather due to La Nina. This extreme weather phenomenon will last until its peak in February 2021.
Head of the Dissemination of Climate and Air Quality Information at the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Hary Tirto Djatmiko explained that the La Nina or La Nina event is an event when conditions of deviation or anomaly in the sea surface temperature of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are lighter than normal conditions. Then, it was followed by changes in the atmospheric circulation above it in the form of an increase in the East Timor trade wind, which was stronger than normal and had lasted several months.
“The condition of La Nina can last for several months to 2 years,” said Hary when contacted by Sindonews, Friday (23/10/2020).
Also Read: BMKG urges residents in this area to start to be aware of the impact of La Nina
He added, changes in the Pacific Ocean in the form of ocean interactions and the La Nina atmosphere occur in an inter-annual cycle known as El Nino with recurring events of 2 to 8 years.
“La Nina has an impact on increasing rainfall in the western Pacific of Indonesia, parts of Southeast Asia and the northern part of Australia, northern Brazil and parts of the west coast of the United States,” he added.
Conversely, it causes lower rainfall in parts of the East Asian coast of central Africa and parts of central America and can also cause cooler climates in parts of western and eastern Africa Japan, most of the west coast of the United States and southern Brazil.
Also Read: This is an area that has the potential to be affected by La Nina in Indonesia
BMKG monitors the development of La Nina by analyzing the Nino 3.4 index which describes sea surface temperature anomalies in the Central Pacific Ocean region. “The Nino 3.4 index for the last 7 decades (70 days) in the range of -0.5 sg -1.0 has met the criteria for La Nina events.
Potential impact of La Nina on monthly rainfall. Rainfall increases with the entry of the beginning of the rainy season. Accumulated rainfall of> 300 mm per month generally occurs on the west coast of Sumatra.
La Nina increases the rainfall significantly from October to November at the start of the rainy season, apart from the monsoon factor.
La Nina strengthens the monthly rainfall as in October most parts of Indonesia except parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. In November, parts of Indonesia, especially the eastern and southern parts of Indonesia. In December, parts of the region, especially eastern and southern Indonesia.
For the increase in rainfall in January, most parts of Indonesia did not experience a significant increase in rainfall. In February increased rainfall in parts of northern Indonesia decreased rainfall in the western part in March in parts of Indonesia, especially eastern and southern Indonesia.
“Even though La Nina has less significant effect on rain from January to February, the accumulation of rainfall remains high in relation to the peak of the strengthening of the Asian monsoon,” Hary concluded.
–
–
