Heatwave to Persist Until Next Week

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Meteorology of the Climatology and Geophysics Meteorology Agency (BMKG) head Fachri Radjab, shows Indonesia\'s highest daily temperature condition in Jakarta, Tuesday (22/10/2019). In Java and Sulawesi, temperatures reached 38-39 degrees Celsius.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – Indonesia has been experiencing a heatwave for the past three days, with the hottest temperature recorded at 39.4 degrees Celsius in Semarang, Central Java, on Tuesday (22/10/2019). The heatwave is expected to persist in several regions until next week.

Meteorological stations of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) in Java and Nusa Tenggara recorded average maximum temperatures of between 35 degrees Celsius and 39.4 degrees Celsius on 19-22 October 2019. A maximum temperature of 38.8 degrees Celsius was recorded in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on 19-20 October. The highest temperature of 39 degrees Celsius was recorded in Ciputat, South Tangerang, Banten, on 21 October.

The temperature of 39.4 degrees Celsius was the highest in the past year. The temperature in Semarang was a little lower than the 39.5 degrees Celsius recorded in October 2015. In October 2018, the highest temperature was 37 degrees Celsius.

BMKG meteorology deputy R. Mulyono R. Prabowo said in Jakarta that the heatwave was triggered by the apparent motion of the sun above Indonesia and to the lack of clouds. In the next week, the sun’s apparent motion will continue southward and the atmosphere will be quite dry. “in October, the apparent motion of the sun is centered at southern Indonesia, including in South Sulawesi, Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara,” he said.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO

Several residents use umbrellas as they walk near the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, Central Jakarta, on Monday (21/10/2019). The temperature reached 36 degrees Celsius. According to the Climatology and Geophysics Meteorology Agency (BMKG), the high temperature was caused by high radiation from the sun and minimal cloud cover.

The condition leads to higher intensity of solar radiation in the region, which increases day temperature. Apart from that, the atmosphere in southern Indonesia is relatively dry and this hinders the spread of clouds that blocks the sun’s heat.

Long-term trend

Despite the hot temperature being a common cycle in the dry season, global trends over a prolonged period shows increases of daily average and maximum temperatures. This long-term trend is believed to be linked to global warming.

“The maximum temperature increase is 0.18 degree Celsius per decade,”

BMKG early warning subdivision head Supari said that a study of 1981-2012 temperature trends in Indonesia found significant increases in daily maximum temperature. “The maximum temperature increase is 0.18 degree Celsius per decade,” he said.

Global data also shows that the earth is getting hotter. Data from the United States’ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) from last week, for instance, showed that September 2019 was the hottest month in Northern America since recording began 140 years ago. All over the world, average land and sea surface temperatures in September has been 0.95 degree Celsius hotter than the average in the 20th century.