Weather Modification: Survival Strategy or Human Overreach?

Extreme weather—heavy rainstorms or snow blizzards—disrupts daily life. Matters become far worse when such conditions escalate into severe phenomena, such as flash floods that claim lives and destroy property. Our country, Indonesia, is no stranger to disasters, particularly floods, which have become increasingly frequent and severe each year. One of the most devastating in recent memory was the Sumatra flood on November 26, during which thousands lost their lives and many more were left homeless.

The Sumatra disaster could be described as a grim “year-end gift,” stirring deep emotional turmoil in the hearts of Indonesians. Through social media and various news outlets, the entire nation—and even the international community—witnessed the grief of the victims and the despair of local officials who openly admitted their inability to cope with the impact of one of the largest disasters in our country’s history.

When the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) issued forecasts warning of the potential for similar disasters in other regions, particularly Java Island, panic quickly spread. Jakarta was named one of the areas most at risk, prompting Governor Pramono Anung to decide on the implementation of weather modification as a preventive measure against massive flooding that could submerge the capital.

The decision drew criticism from various quarters, as the method is not considered entirely safe. Several studies have highlighted the negative impacts of weather modification, especially those arising from the long-term use of chemical substances. Silver iodide particles, commonly used in cloud seeding, may ultimately become a double-edged sword, potentially contaminating soil and water. Meanwhile, their effects on the human body—particularly the skin—remain a subject of debate.

Illustration: view from a cafe built next to a historical site in Bromo

About “Directing” the Weather, from a Spiritual Perspective

Weather modification is not a new concept in our culture, especially among followers of Indigenous Belief. The skill of “directing the weather” has long been known and passed down through generations, although it traditionally involves controlling only one type of weather: rain. Practitioners of this skill are known as pawang hujan (rain shamans), whose services are often sought to prevent rainfall during large outdoor events.

Unlike modern weather modification, a pawang hujan does not aim to cancel or stop rain altogether, but merely to delay it. This concept is rooted in the belief that nature is alive and possesses its own course of movement. Humans cannot prevent, reject, or forcibly stop it—just as they cannot reject fate. Attempts to resist nature by halting rain, even if successful, are believed to generate new consequences that ultimately demand further human intervention to resolve.

For this reason, the ability to “direct” rain is not meant to be exercised arbitrarily by those who possess it. Redirecting rain away from a wedding celebration, for instance, is intended to ensure that guests are not inconvenienced by wet clothing. The goal is to allow them to remain comfortable, enjoy the atmosphere, interact with one another, and share in the joy of the newlyweds—precisely the purpose of holding a wedding reception.

At the Mercy of the “Driver”

Possessing the power—or expertise—to alter rainfall should be accompanied by a strong sense of responsibility. One example is the phenomenon of Rara, a pawang hujan whose actions in halting rain during a MotoGP race session at the Mandalika Circuit in 2022 went viral on X. While her performance drew praise from around the world, we can never truly know the ripple effects of such a public display of power—an act that some may interpret as “challenging the Divine.”

The same applies to the ability to modify weather. Natural disasters should be understood as the end result of a complex chain of interrelated causes, rather than the consequence of a single factor—heavy rainfall alone, in this case. The use of weather modification may still be considered reasonable when humanity is genuinely trapped in a state of emergency with no viable alternatives.

Yet how dire must a situation be for weather modification to be deemed justified? Clear and transparent parameters must be established—guidelines that serve to regulate the regulators of the weather themselves. (dswas)