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Residents urged to anticipate tidal floods during supermoon
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Be prepared: Ismail, a staff member at the Kota Tua management unit, tests a telescope that will be used to monitor a supermoon, which is predicted to occur together with the total lunar eclipse on Wednesday. (Antara/Dhemas Reviyanto)
T
he Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) has warned residents living in coastal areas of tidal floods or rising sea levels during a supermoon, which is expected to occur together with the total lunar eclipse on Wednesday.
BMKG head Dwikorita Karnawati said residents should stay alert, as sea levels could rise up to 1.5 meters owing to the sun and moon’s gravitational forces.
“The rising sea levels will affect transportation near harbors and beaches, as well as the activity of salt farmers, freshwater fisheries, as well as loading and unloading at ports,” Dwikorita said in a statement.
(Read also: Rare lunar eclipse offers glimpse of 'super blue blood moon')
Dwikorita further said the moon phenomenon could also cause sea levels to recede 100-110 centimeters from Jan. 30 to Feb. 1 in several provinces, including North Sumatra, West Sumatra, South Sumatra, Lampung, West Kalimantan, as well as the northern coast of Jakarta, Central Java and East Java.
Indonesia will be able to witness the occurrence of a supermoon—when the moon will appear bigger and brighter than usual—at the same time as the total lunar eclipse on Wednesday.
According to the BMKG, the phenomenon can be witnessed best in the area spanning from the border of Central and East Java to the west of Sumatra.
The peak of the eclipse is expected to take place at 8:29 p.m. local time. (ebf)
