More Weather Sensors Needed: East Java

By Barrie | November 13th, 2007 | No Comments

With only four Automatic Weather Systems (AWS) on hand, East Java is in urgent need of more weather detection equipment. Such equipment is crucial in providing authorities with early warnings about possible weather-related disasters, the head of Malang’s Karangploso Climate Station, Antoyo Setiadipratikto, said.

“In a region with flat geographical terrain, one AWS could cover an area of around 50 square kilometers. However, in mountainous terrain, these systems can only monitor around 30 square kilometers,” he said.

“East Java is made up of 47,922 square kilometers of land, with varying types of terrain. Ideally, a region this size would be equipped with at least 940 Automatic Weather Systems,” he said.
Greater Malang, which is made up of the Malang regency, Malang municipality and Batu city, should have at least 190 systems, he said.

“However, given present financial restraints, four to five AWS units would be adequate for Greater Malang,” he said.

Automatic Weather Systems are monitoring systems that can provide real-time data about fluctuations in weather to multiple recipients. They can read changes in temperature, wind speed, wind direction, humidity and atmospheric pressure as well as levels of radiation caused by the sun.

These systems have the capacity to provide authorities with comprehensive information on the weather, including early warnings about possible storms.

“AWS units are a critical component of any disaster early warning system,” he said.

Automatic Weather Systems are one of three monitoring systems disaster-prone cities should have. The other two pieces of crucial equipment are weather radars and satellites.

The Japanese government donated a weather radar to the province, which was installed at Surabaya’s Juanda airport. The radar has 200 square kilometers of coverage and will be fully operational before the end of the year.

Antoyo said southern Malang was a disaster-prone area, with floods and landslides a common occurrence due to its unstable terrain and damaged forests.

“That is why we need more Automatic Weather Systems,” he added.

A single AWS costs around Rp 300 million. Antoyo said ideally each regency would finance the purchase of AWS units, while the climate station would establish supporting infrastructure.

“If regents and local politicians really care about the safety of their people, they should allocate funds from the regency’s budget to purchase weather detection equipment,” he said.

Wahyoe Boediwardhana