KARAKTERISTIK KIMIA AIR HUJAN SAAT KEBAKARAN HUTAN DI PROPINSI KALIMANTAN BARAT DAN SUMATERA SELATAN

Abstract

Forest fire which occurs in many provinces in Indonesia especially in West Kalimantan and South Sumatera increases along with the high and rapid deforestation and people demand. Forest fire affects directly to environment such as decreasing of air quality condition. To study the impact of forest fire on chemical characteristic of rainwater and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) from 2002 to 2008, analyses has been conducted. Rainwater and SPM samples in Pontianak and Palembang were obtained respectively from Supadio Meteorological Station and Kenten Climatological Station; while the analyses were conducted at BMKG using Ion Chromatography. Hotspot parameter was derived from Terra satellite and Aqua MODIS which were collected by NOAA Earth Satellite Station, , Ministry of Forestry. The study showed that the increase of hotspot number was followed with the increase of acid deposition and SPM concentrations in a few moments later both in West Kalimantan and South Sumatera. Acid rain also occured in that region with percentages of 61.1 % and 71.8 %, respectively. Chemical composition of rainwater in West Kalimantan and South Sumatera during highest and lowest hotspot is dominated with Cl-, NH4+, Ca2+, and Na+. High concentration of NH4+, Ca2+, and Na+ played important role in neutralizing the acidity of rainwater so that the pH tends to increase during period of 2002 to 2008, both in Pontianak and Palembang. The coefficient correlations of the increase of hotspot number followed by the increase of SPM concentration are 0,836 and 0,678, respectively.