IPB Lecturer: Cold Temperature in Indonesia As a result of Aphelion is Hoax
Cold temperatures that occur in some areas of Indonesia lately is not caused by aphelion phenomenon, such as news hoax that many circulating in the community. Lecturer Department of Geophysics and Meteorology (GFM) Faculty of Mathematics and Science (FMIPA) Bogor Agricultural University (IPB), Dr. Akhmad Faqih said that the aphelion does not give a significant effect on the variation of temperature decrease in Indonesian territory. Actually aphelion is the furthest distance from the earth movement around the sun that routinely happens every year. At the same time, Indonesia is in the dry season.
Decrease in cold temperatures is more due to weather conditions in Indonesia which is at the peak of the dry season where the sun position is in the northern hemisphere and the Asian monsoons are active. At the height of the dry season, the opposite occurs in areas of Australia that do not receive as much sun radiation as intensive as December, January, and February. So Australia experiences winter and becomes a center of low pressure.
"By looking at the principle of how the wind moves, from high pressure to low pressure, Australia is experiencing winter it will become a center of high pressure, the air is more likely to dry and move through Indonesia. It is that much affect the weather conditions in Indonesia today, " explains Dr. Ir. Akhmad who currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Experts of the Indonesian Association of Agriculture Meteorology (PERHIMPI) and Head of Strategic Studies of Institute of Research and Community Service (LPPM) IPB.
Currently, long-wave radiation that is released tends to not hold the atmosphere due to at least clouds and sunny conditions, so that the heating effect is reduced and the temperature becomes cold. Unlike during the rainy season, when many clouds in the atmosphere, back radiation, especially long waves are retained and reflected back to earth, causing the temperature of the air becomes hotter.
Based on the report of Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) itself, the temperature drop that occurs , for example in Bandung, not too extreme and still in the context of normal conditions.
"I always emphasize when we talk about weather and climate events and want to see what effect it has, so we have to see the time scale. So when talking about daily conditions that suddenly turn cold and are associated with aphelion phenomena whose annual cycles with slower cycle events become irrelevant when associated with rapidly changing meteorological conditions, "he adds.
In addition to the cooler air temperature, the influence of Asian monsoon is also causing the freezing of moisture in some highland areas one of the Dieng Plateau. Many residents call it snow, but in fact it is not snow just frost only. Frost is caused by the cold air flow on the cold surface causes condensation in the surface layer to freeze due to the temperature below the frost point air. The freezing process can occur directly through the phase change from water vapor to frost.
In the field of agriculture, frost is quite detrimental to farmers because it can cause crop damage and crop failure.
"In this case, micro-climate modification is very important. Speaking of microclimate, regional character and local character needs to be taken into account so that modified forms of microclimate and appropriate technologies to address the problem can be selected, "he adds.
A form of microclimate modification to reduce frost loss in plantation crops, such as coffee crops grown in high altitudes, is to plant protective crops as a barrier to reduce the effects of frost events. While on horticultural crops, mulching can help reduce crop damage because when the indirect frost cooling process occurs in contact with the soil and mulch closure can also increase the soil temperature, so the adverse effects of frost attacks can be controlled. (NR)
