Historical precipitation data in Sumatra and Kalimantan from 1879 to 1900, by using Dutch colonial materials

Abstract

Indonesia suffers from serious fire and haze problems occurring in the peatland areas of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Haze has become an international issue in Southeast Asia, and Indonesia must now implement better prevention management for this severe crisis. To understand the meteorological conditions in Indonesia, it is important to analyze the historical precipitation ranging back to the colonial days. This study focuses on historical precipitation data observed during the Dutch colonial era. The observation records from 1879-1900 were recorded in historical materials called "Regenwaarnemingen in Nederlandsch-Indie". The records not only include Batavia, but also other observation stations in Indonesia. In this study, the historical precipitation data in Sumatra (Medan, Jambi, Bengkalis) and Kalimantan (Pontianak, Banjarmasin, Amuntai) were reconstructed. By using these reconstructed precipitation data, I analyzed the annual precipitation fluctuation and mean monthly precipitation at six stations. The colonial materials have not yet been examined enough in the meteorological research field, and their historical data contribute to Indonesia's historical research and climatic problems.