Jakarta records improved pollution after 4 OMC sorties
PM2.5 fell to 9–32 µg/m³ at several points Saturday morning, though the effect of weather modification is still being assessed.
The DKI Jakarta provincial government recorded better air quality in the capital's five regions on Saturday morning after weather modification operations (OMC) were carried out on October 21–23. Data from the Air Quality Monitoring Station showed concentrations of PM2.5, PM10 and sulfur dioxide generally declined, especially from 04.00–07.00 WIB. In South Jakarta, PM2.5 fell to 12–32 µg/m³, while along the North Jakarta coast it stood at 9–17 µg/m³. Earlier, on Friday night, IQAir recorded Jakarta's air as unhealthy, with an index of 155 and PM2.5 at 61 µg/m³. DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung said the condition was not caused by forest and land fires. BPBD DKI said the OMC was carried out in four flight sorties using PK-SNH aircraft and sodium chloride seeding material in Bogor, Depok, Bekasi and South Jakarta. Light to moderate rain was then recorded in South Jakarta, East Jakarta, Depok, Bogor and South Tangerang.