N. Sumatra enters dry season

The Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) announced on Tuesday that North Sumatra and its surrounding areas will enter the dry season this month with temperatures reaching 35 to 37 degrees Celsius.

The head of data and information at BMKG’s Polonia office, Hartanto, said that this month’s dry season would be prolonged as rains are expected to resume in March.

February’s dry season in North Sumatra would be the first dry season of the year, Hartanto said.

“North Sumatra will experience two dry seasons this year, with the second one taking place from June to July,” he said.

Hartanto explained that in the first phase of dry season, low intensity local rains would hold temperatures to a mild 33 degrees Celsius. However, due to the high humidity, he said, the heat index could reach up to 37 degrees Celsius.

Hartanto further explained that North Sumatra’s location was the reason for its biannual dry seasons.

“Any area located near the equator like North Sumatra will experience the peak of dry and rainy season twice each year,” he said.

However, Hartanto said dry seasons in North Sumatra are special because they would only occur over a short period of time, mainly due to the effect of the sun’s movement.

“The sun will usually cross the equator in March and September. Usually the process of heating will intensify, thereby disrupting rainfall,” he said.

He said that the province’s rainy season would take place in May and October.

North Sumatra Environment Agency head Hidayati said from an environmental point of view, the dry season expected in North Sumatra could be separated from the impacts of global warming.

Hidayati explained there were a number of factors that contributed to the global warming, namely transportation, industry, garbage, livestock husbandry and agriculture.

Hidayati said that, thus far, her agency lacked any data North Sumatra’s contributions to global warming.

“We are still collecting information on the extent of carbon potential available in North Sumatra
and how it impacts global warming,” she said.

Hidayati also said that the capability of forests in North Sumatra to absorb carbon was steadily decreasing.