The trend of extreme global uncertainty and climate change is currently haunting all countries in the world including Indonesia. In the midst of the commotion over the poor weather conditions in Jabodetabek and the long dry season that has occurred in a number of areas, the only eternal snow that is the pride of Indonesia is reportedly nearing extinction.
This was stated by the Head of BMKG Dwikorita Karnawati in the seminar “Eternal Snow Towards Extinction: Impact of Climate Change?” in Newsdelivers.com, Tuesday (22/8).
“Eternal snow or ice cover in Puncak Jaya, Papua, is increasingly worrying because it continues to experience melting due to the effects of climate change,” he explained as quoted from the official Instagram account @infobmkg.
Causes of the Melting of the Eternal Snow in Papua
The El Nino phenomenon that occurred this year also affected the extinction of ice cover or glaciers in Puncak Jaya. According to Dwikorita, this fact also has an impact on various aspects of life in the region.
“Ecosystems around the eternal snow are vulnerable and threatened. Climate change is also impacting the lives of local indigenous people who have long depended on the balance of the environment and natural resources in the region,” Dwikorita explained.
Perpetual Snow Monitoring Results in 2016-2022
Snow on the top of the mountain/Photo: Pinterest/Joesoep Sanggalangi
Dwikorita said that Indonesia’s eternal snow is unique because it is located in a tropical area. This is one of the proofs of natural wonders that attracts the attention of nature lovers, researchers and scientists.
Unfortunately, the reported area of perpetual snow has decreased dramatically in recent decades.
“However, in the last few decades, it has been reported that there has been a drastic reduction in the area of perpetual snow.” Dwikorita said.
The report is based on studies conducted since 2010 regarding paleo-climatological analysis based on ice cores in the Puncak Jaya glacier by the BMKG Research and Development Center (Puslitbang) with Ohio State University, USA.
BMKG supported by PT Freeport Indonesia also conducts periodic monitoring of the extent and thickness of snow or glaciers in Puncak Jaya.
Glacier Depletion Rate Per Year
Snow on the peak of Mount Jaya Wijaya/Photo: Pinterest/Marshalina Gita
On this occasion, BMKG Climatology Expert Donaldi Sukma Permana also said that in the 2016-2022 timeframe, the rate of ice loss per year is around 2.5 meters. The latest data is in 2022, the area of ice cover is recorded at around 0.23 square kilometers and continues to experience melting.
“Another real impact of the melting of ice in these mountains is that it contributes to increasing sea levels globally,” he said in an official statement quoted from the BMKG website.
(Gambas:Instagram)
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