Dr. Eng Arie Dipareza Syafei S.T., MEPM, an environmental expert from ITS highlighted the dangers of hail for air pollution

ITS Campus, ITS News – Surabaya was shocked by the phenomenon of hail that fell along with heavy rain and strong winds last Monday (21/2). In addition to causing physical damage to several public and private facilities, the hail accompanied by such strong winds also pollutes ambient air quality.

The Head of the Environmental Engineering Department of the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember (ITS), Dr. Arie Dipareza Syafei S.T., MEPM, appealed to the public not to panic in the face of the hail phenomenon. He emphasized that hail has a content that is not much different from ordinary rain. “It’s just a different shape. One is water, while the other is solid,” he said.

Dr. Eng Arie Dipareza Syafei S.T., MEPM, an environmental expert from ITS highlighted the dangers of hail for air pollution

However, Arie confirmed that hail brought pollutants from the atmosphere. Not just carrying small dust particles, he revealed that the ice also contains emission gases such as nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide.

The man who works in air pollution and climate change said that rain does bring pollutants because the emission substances from the earth will collide and stick with water droplets in the atmosphere. “In the case of hail, the water mixture crystallizes due to air movement that affects temperature,” he explained.

Considering that hail is usually accompanied by strong winds, Arie said that the thing to watch out for is the widespread distribution of pollutants. He revealed that wind turbulence would accelerate the process of pollutants dilution. It means the emission clusters in the hail will disperse more quickly and widely.

Illustration of hail (Source from Tribunnews.com)

The doctoral degree holder from the University of Hiroshima added, when the wind moves horizontally, the pollutants in the hail have the potential to be carried to other nearby areas. “As for yesterday, the hail phenomenon does not only occur in Surabaya but also reported to have occurred in Madiun, Nganjuk, to Kediri,” he said.

Arie hopes that the experience of watching hail makes people more careful and educated. The public must be aware that these ice chunks contain pollutant compounds that are not friendly to the environment and health. “Just because it rains ice, don’t use it to make iced tea,” he joked while alluding to the behavior of people who spread on the internet. (NL/ITS Public Relation)

Illustration of hail (Source from Tribunnews.com)

Reporter: Difa Khoirunisa