Abstract:
Water is the most important thing in our life. Therefore, the lack of water (deficit) will be very
harmful to all living creatures and it is almost certain that water deficit areas will experience
drought. Water deficit can be caused by El Nino. In 2015, El Nino is listed at an intermediate level
moving towards a strong level. Bima region, West Nusa Tenggara is one of the affected areas of El
Nino. Therefore, it is interesting to study the availability of soil mosture in the area. The
availability of soil mosture can be measured by a water balance analysis. The study was conducted
using rainfall data and temperature from meteorology station Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin.
Rainfall and temperature data are averaged over the El Nino period in 2015 to make land balance
calculations yielding surplus and deficit data. The supporting data in atmospheric dynamics
analysis using sea surface temperature data were processed using GRADS, wind data, and
Southern Osilation Index data obtained from BOM (Bureau Of Meteorology, Australia). The
method used is the method of calculating the water balance of Thorthwaite Mather , while the
method of calculating the nature of rain using the method of classification of rain properties with
normal criteria (85% - 115%), below normal (<85%) and above normal (> 115%) then presented
in graphic. This condition shows that El Nino has a big influence on availability of soil mosture in
Bima, West Nusa Tenggara. The most deficit of soil mosture occured in August.
