Simulated Indonesian Throughflow in Makassar Strait across the SODA3 products

The Indonesian Throughflow(ITF), which connects the tropical Pacific and Indian oceans, plays important roles in the inter-ocean water exchange and regional or even global climate variability. The Makassar Strait is the main inflow passage of the ITF, carrying about 77% of the total ITF volume transport. In this study, we analyze the simulated ITF in the Makassar Strait in the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation version 3(SODA3) datasets. A total of nine ensemble members of the SODA3 datasets, of which are driven by different surface forcings and bulk formulas, and with or without data assimilation, are used in this study. The annual mean water transports(i.e.,volume, heat and freshwater) are related to the combination of surface forcing and bulk formula, as well as whether data assimilation is employed. The phases of the seasonal and interannual variability in water transports cross the Makassar Strait, are basically consistent with each other among the SODA3 ensemble members. The interannual variability in Makassar Strait volume and heat transports are significantly correlated with El Ni?oSouthern Oscillation(ENSO) at time lags of-6 to 7 months. There is no statistically significant correlation between the freshwater transport and the ENSO. The Makassar Strait water transports are not significantly correlated with the Indian Ocean Dipole(IOD), which may attribute to model deficiency in simulating the propagation of semiannual Kelvin waves from the Indian Ocean to the Makassar Strait.

Climatology and Variability of the Indonesian Throughflow in an Eddy-permitting Oceanic GCM

A quasi-global eddy permitting oceanic GCM, LICOM1.0, is run with the forcing of ERA40 daily wind stress from 1958 to 2001. The modelled Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) is reasonable in the aspects of both its water source and major pathways. Compared with the observation, the simulated annual mean and seasonal cycle of the ITF transport are fairly realistic. The interannual variation of the tropical Pacific Ocean plays a more important role in the interannual variability of the ITF transport. The relationship between the ITF and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) also reflects the influence of ENSO. However, the relationship between the ITF transport and the interannual anomalies in the Pacific and Indian Oceans vary with time. During some years, (e.g., 1994), the effect of a strong IOD on the ITF transport is more than that from ENSO.

Covariation of the Indonesian Throughflow and South China Sea Throughflow Associated with the 1976/77 Regime Shift

Changes in the Indonesian Throughflow （ITF） and the South China Sea throughflow-measured by the Luzon Strait Transport （LST）-associated with the 1976/77 regime shift are analyzed using the Island Rule theory and the Simple Ocean Data Assimilation dataset. Results show that LST increased but ITF transport decreased after 1975. Such changes were induced by variations in wind stress associated with the regime shift. The strengthening of the easterly wind anomaly east of the Luzon Strait played an important role in the increase of LST after 1975, while the westerly wind anomaly in the equatorial Pacific contributed significantly to the decrease in ITF transport after 1975; accounting for 53% of the change. After 1975, the Kuroshio Current strengthened and the Mindanao Current weakened in response to a decrease in the total transport of the North Equatorial Current. Both the North Equatorial Countercurrent and the South Equatorial Current weakened after 1975, and an anomalous cyclonic circulation in the western equatorial Pacific prevented the tropical Pacific water from entering the Indian Ocean directly.

Influence of Positive and Negative Indian Ocean Dipoles on ENSO via the Indonesian Throughflow: Results from Sensitivity Experiments

The role of the Indonesian Throughflow （ITF） in the influence of the Indian Ocean Dipole （IOD） on ENSO is investigated using version 2 of the Parallel Ocean Program （POP2） ocean general circulation model. We demonstrate the results through sensitivity experiments on both positive and negative IOD events from observations and coupled general circulation model simulations. By shutting down the atmospheric bridge while maintaining the tropical oceanic channel, the IOD forcing is shown to influence the ENSO event in the following year, and the role of the ITF is emphasized. During positive IOD events, negative sea surface height anomalies （SSHAs） occur in the eastern Indian Ocean, indicating the existence of upwelling. These upwelling anomalies pass through the Indonesian seas and enter the western tropical Pacific, resulting in cold anomalies there. These cold temperature anomalies further propagate to the eastern equatorial Pacific, and ultimately induce a La Nifia- like mode in the following year. In contrast, during negative IOD events, positive SSHAs are established in the eastern Indian Ocean, leading to downwelling anomalies that can also propagate into the subsurface of the western Pacific Ocean and travel further eastward. These downwelling anomalies induce negative ITF transport anomalies, and an E1 Nifio-like mode in the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean that persists into the following year. The effects of negative and positive IOD events on ENSO via the ITF are symmetric. Finally, we also estimate the contribution of IOD forcing in explaining the Pacific variability associated with ENSO via ITE

Origins and pathways of the subsurface and intermediate water masses of the Indonesian Throughflow derived from historical and Argo data

On the basis of Argo data and historic temperature/salinity data from the World Ocean Database 2001 （ WOD01 ）, origins and spreading pathways of the subsurface and intermediate water masses in the Indonesian Throughflow （ITF） region were discussed by analyzing distributions of salinity on representative isopyenal layers. Results were shown that, subsurface water mostly comes from the North Pacific Ocean while the intermediate water originates from both the North and South Pacific Ocean, even possibly from the Indian Ocean. Spreading through the Sulawesi Sea, the Makassar Strait, and file Flores Sea, the North Pacific subsurface water and the North Pacific Intermediate water dominate the western part of the Indonesian Archipelago. Furthermore as the depth increases, the features of the North Pacific sourced water masses become more obvious. In the eastern part of the waters, high sa- linity South Pacific subsurface water is blocked by a strong salinity front between Halmahera and New Guinea. Intermediate water in the eastern interior region owns salinity higher than the North Pacific intermediate water and the antarctic intermediate water （ AAIW）, possibly coming from the vertical mixing between subsurface water and the AAIW from the Pacific Ocean, and possibly coming from the northward extending of the AAIW from the Indian Ocean as well.

Stable carbon and oxygen isotopes of four planktonic foraminiferal species from core-top sediments of the Indonesian throughflow region and their significance

Horizontal and vertical distributions of δ^18 and δ^13 were investigated in shells of four planktonic foraminiferal species, Globigerinoides ruber, Globigerinoides sacculifer, Pulleniatina obliquiloculata and Neogloboquedrina dutertrei, from a total of 62 core-top sediment samples from the Indonesian throughflow region. Results were compared to modern hydrologic conditions in order to explore potential of proxies in reconstructing fluvial discharge and upper ocean water column characteristics in this region. Our results show that, in the Makassar Strait, both of depleted δ^18 and δ^13 of these four species were linked to freshwater input. In the Bali Sea,however, depleted δ^18 and δ^13 for these species may be due to different reasons. Depleted δ^18 was a result of freshwater input and as well influenced by along-shore currents while depleted δ^13 was more likely due to the Java-Sumatra upwelling. Comparison of shell δ^18 records and hydrographic data of World Ocean Atlas 2005 suggests that G. ruber and G. sacculifer calcify within the mixed-layer, respectively at 0–50 m and 20–75 m water depth, and P. obliquiloculata and N. dutertrei within the upper thermocline, both at 75–125 m water depth. N.dutertrei calcifies at slightly deeper water depth than P. obliquiloculata does. In general, δ^13 values of both G.ruber and G. sacculifer are larger than those of P. obliquiloculata and N. dutertrei at all sites, possibly related to depth habitats of these species and vertical distribution of nutrients in the Indonesian throughflow region.

Correlation analysis of the North Equatorial Current bifurcation and the Indonesian Throughflow

Based on monthly mean Simple Ocean Data Assimilation （SODA） products from 1958 to 2007, this study analyzes the seasonal and interannual variability of the North Equatorial Current （NEC） bifurcation latitude and the Indonesian Throughflow （ITF） volume transport. Further, Empirical Mode Decomposition （EMD） method and lag-correlation analysis are employed to reveal the relationships between the NEC bifurcation location, NEC and ITF volume transport and ENSO events. The analysis results of the seasonal variability show that the annual mean location of NEC bifurcation in upper layer occurs at 14.33°N and ITF volume transport has a maximum value in summer, a minimum value in winter and an annual mean transport of 7.75×10^6 m^3/s. The interannual variability analysis indicates that the variability of NEC bifurcation location can be treated as a precursor of El Nino. The correlation coefficient between the two reaches the maximum of 0.53 with a time lag of 2 months. The ITF volume transport is positively related with E1 Nifio events with a maximum coefficient of 0.60 by 3 months. The NEC bifurcation location is positively correlated with the ITF volume transport with a correlation coefficient of 0.43.

Pathways of intraseasonal Kelvin waves in the Indonesian Throughflow regions derived from satellite altimeter observation

The gridded sea level anomaly（SLA） data-set provided by AVISO is used to track the propagation of intraseasonal Kelvin waves in the Indonesian Throughflow（ITF） region. The large root mean square of intraseasonal SLA along the Sumatra and Java coast is closely related to the propagation of intraseasonal Kelvin waves that derive from the equatorial Indian Ocean. These Kelvin waves are further found to propagate following different pathways at the Lombok Strait. Pathway A propagates eastward throughout the Sumba Strait and Savu Sea to reach the Ombai Strait. Pathway B penetrates into Lombok and propagates northward to reach the Makassar Strait. Pathway C propagates southeastward along the southwest coast of the Sumba Island. The equatorial Kelvin waves take around 15 days to travel from the equatorial Indian Ocean to Lombok Strait, and around 5 days to penetrate into the Makassar and Ombai straits. The Kelvin wave-induced SLA persists in the ITF region for an additional 5 days and then diminishes subsequently. The phase speeds of these intraseasonal Kelvin waves along Pathways A, B, and C are 1.91–2.86, 1.69, and 1.96 m s^-1,respectively—in agreement with the first two baroclinic modes of Kelvin waves.

Subthermocline eddies carrying the Indonesian Throughflow water observed in the southeastern tropical Indian Ocean

We observed a subthermocline eddy(STE)with a cold and fresh core during an observation cruise along a transect of 10°S in the southeastern tropical Indian Ocean(SETIO)in December 2017.The vertical scale,speed radius,and maximum swirl velocity of the STE were about 200 m,55 km,and 0.5 m/s,respectively.The mean Rossby number and Burger number of the STE were then estimated to be about−0.7 and 2.4,indicating the STE was a submesoscale coherent vortex.The STE core water had characteristics of the Indonesian Throughflow(ITF)water and was distinct from that of surrounding areas.By examining Argo float data,another STE was well captured by five successive profiles of the same Argo float.Both STEs showed significant temperature and salinity anomalies at theσ0=26.0-26.5 kg/m3 surfaces.With the assumption that the low-salinity ITF water parcels could be carried only by surface eddies and the STEs,the Argo profiles,which detected low-salinity ITF water and were located outside a surface eddy,were believed to be inside an STE and were used to analyze the distribution,origin,and generation mechanism of the STE.The results suggested that the STEs carrying ITF water may be generated under topography-current interaction at the eastern coastal waters or under front-induced subduction in the area away from coastal waters.Those STEs may be widely distributed in the SETIO and may play a role in ITF water parcel transport.

Geochemical characteristics from tests of four modern planktonic foraminiferal species in the Indonesian Throughflow region and their implications

Test geochemistry of planktonic foraminifera is an indispensable tool in reconstructing past ocean hydrological changes. It is essential to investigate region-specific implications of test geochemistry,although those established from other regions can be broadly applied. In this study, characteristics of6180 and Mg/Ca from tests of four planktonic foraminiferal species, Globigerinoides ruber sensu stricto(s.s.), Globigerinoides sacculifer, Pulleniatina obliquiloculata and Neogloboquadrina dutertrei, from 60 coretop sediment samples retrieved from the Indonesian Throughflow(ITF) region were studied. These geochemical data were compared with modern hydrographic profiles in order to assess their relations and to investigate potential implications of test geochemical parameters in reconstructing past oceanographic change in the ITF region. Calcification depths of these four species were first estimated based on comparison between measured test δ180 and predicted calcite δ^(18)O that was calculated from modern temperature and salinity. The results indicate that G. ruber s.s. and G. sacculifer calcify within the mixedlayer at 0-50 m and 20-75 m, respectively, whereas P. obliquiloculata and N. dutertrei calcify within the thermocline at around 75 to 125 m. A combined study of excess Mg/Ca(difference between measured and predicted Mg/Ca) and salinity suggests that salinity exerts a negligible impact on test Mg/Ca of these foraminiferal species in the ITF region. Comparison of test Mg/Ca-derived temperatures with temperature profiles of the upper 200 m of the water column from the seas of the ITF region also indicate calcification depths of these species, which match well with the above estimations using test δ^(18)O. It further indicates that G. sacculifer may be more sensitive in reflecting changes in the depth of the mixedlayer, highlighting a potential use of Mg/Ca temperature difference between G. ruber s.s. and G. sacculifer in reconstructing the depth of the mixed-layer in the ITF region.

The IOD signal in the upper-ocean Indonesian Throughflow since the mid-1970s

On the basis of simple ocean data assimilation （SODA） reanalysis product, the interannual variability of upper-ocean Indonesian Throughflow （ITF） volume transport since the mid 1970s is examed. The wavelet analysis shows a second prominent interannual oscillation with a period of about 2 ～ 4 a. To reveal any relationship between this band-scale oscillation of upper-ocean ITF and the Indian Ocean dipole （IOD）, the correlation and wavelet analyses are used. The correlation coefficient between the upper-ocean ITF and the IOD reaches - 0.40 with upper-ocean ITF lagging an IOD index by eight months. The wavelet power spectrum of upper-ocean ITF shows similar structure to that of the IOD index. And the evolution of IOD is reproduced by lagged correlation between the upper-ocean ITF and the sea surface temperature anomaly （SSTA） over the Indian Ocean. It suggests that the 2 ～ 4 a band-scale oscillation of upper-ocean ITF is related uniquely to the IOD over the tropical Indian Ocean.

Seasonal and interannual variability of water mass sources of Indonesian throughflow in the Maluku Sea and the Halmahera Sea

So far, large uncertainties of the Indonesian throughflow(ITF) reside in the eastern Indonesian seas, such as the Maluku Sea and the Halmahera Sea. In this study, the water sources of the Maluku Sea and the Halmahera Sea are diagnosed at seasonal and interannual timescales and at different vertical layers, using the state-of-the-art simulations of the Ocean General Circulation Model(OGCM) for Earth Simulator(OFES). Asian monsoon leaves clear seasonal footprints on the eastern Indonesian seas. Consequently, the subsurface waters(around 24.5σ_θ and at ～150 m) in both the Maluku Sea and the Halmahera Sea stem from the South Pacific(SP) during winter monsoon, but during summer monsoon the Maluku Sea is from the North Pacific(NP), and the Halmahera Sea is a mixture of waters originating from the NP and the SP. The monsoon impact decreases with depth, so that in the Maluku Sea, the intermediate water(around 26.8σ_θ and at ～480 m) is always from the northern Banda Sea and the Halmahera Sea water is mainly from the SP in winter and the Banda Sea in summer. The deep waters(around27.2σ_θ and at ～1 040 m) in both seas are from the SP, with weak seasonal variability. At the interannual timescale,the subsurface water in the Maluku Sea originates from the NP/SP during El Ni?o/La Ni?a, while the subsurface water in the Halmahera Sea always originates from the SP. Similar to the seasonal variability, the intermediate water in Maluku Sea mainly comes from the Banda Sea and the Halmahera Sea always originates from the SP. The deep waters in both seas are from the SP. Our findings are helpful for drawing a comprehensive picture of the water properties in the Indonesian seas and will contribute to a better understanding of the ocean-atmosphere interaction over the maritime continent.

Heat contribution of the Indonesian throughflow to the Indian Ocean

Based on the high-resolution Eulerian fields of an ocean general circulation model simulation, the heat contribution of the Indonesian throughflow(ITF) to the Indian Ocean is estimated by Lagrangian tracing method.The heat transport of each particle of ITF waters is calculated by tracing temperature change along the trajectory until the particle exits the Indian Ocean. The simulation reveals that the ITF waters flow westward and branch near Madagascar, further showing the ITF waters are redistributed in both northern and southern Indian Ocean.Heat budget analysis indicates that the ITF waters gain 0.41 PW(Petawatts, 1015 W) in the northern Indian Ocean and lose 0.56 PW in the southern Indian Ocean, respectively. As a result, the ITF waters warm the whole Indian Ocean basin with only 0.15 PW, which shows an "insignificant" role of ITF on the Indian Ocean because of the heat exchange compensation between northern and southern Indian Ocean. Furthermore, the tracing pathways show that the ITF waters mainly flow out the Indian Ocean at both sides of the basin via Agulhas Current and Leeuwin Current. About 89% of the ITF waters leave along western boundary and the rest 11% along eastern boundary. Compared to seeding section, 0.10 PW and 0.05 PW are released to the Indian Ocean, respectively.

A METHOD TO ESTIMATE DYNAMIC HEIGHT AND GEOSTROPHIC TRANSPORT RELATIVE TO DEEPER LEVELS FROM 400M EXPENDABLE BATHYTHERMOGRAPH IN THE INDONESIAN THROUGHFLOW

The Expendable Bathythermograph (XBT) Programme used a mix of T4 (450m) and T7(750 m) XBT’s during the pre-TOGA periods. Studies are needed to determine how to use the T4/T7 datatogether, in particular with regard to a reference level for calculation of dynamic height and geostrophiccurrents. Temperature profiles to 750 m collected from 1986 through 1989 on the trackline across theIndonesian throughflow between NW Australia and Java are used to show the relations between dynamicbeight and geostriohic flow using reference levels at 400 db and 750 db. A very high temporalcorrelation between vertically averaged temperture in the upper 400 m and dynamic height at 50 m rela-tive to 750 db was found. The corresponding regression relationships are presented for all one degree lati-tude bins along the section and can be used for dynamical calculation of currents in the upper 400 m rel-ative to 750 db .An attempt is made to estimate volume transport relative to 750 db from 400 m pro-files. Problems which make

Change of Indonesian Throughflow outflow in response to East Asian Monsoon and ENSO activities since the Last Glacial

The Indonesian Throughflow （ITF） links upper ocean waters of the west Pacific and Indian Ocean, modulates heat and fresh water budgets between these oceans, and in turn plays an important role in global climate change. The climatic phenomena such as the East Asian monsoon and E1 Nifio-Southern Oscillation （ENSO） exert a strong influence on flux, water properties and vertical stratification of the ITF. This work studied sediments of Core SO 18462 that was retrieved from the outflow side of the ITF in the Timor Sea in order to investigate response of the ITF to monsoon and ENSO activities since the last glacial. Based on Mg/Ca ratios and oxygen isotopes in shells of planktonic foraminiferal surface and thermocline species, seawater temperatures and salinity of both surface and thermocline waters and vertical thermal gradient of the ITF outflow were recon- structed. Records of Core SO18462 were then compared with those from Core 3cBX that was recovered from the western Pa- cific warm pool （WPWP）. The results displayed that similar surface waters occurred in the Timor Sea and the WPWP during the last glacial. Since -16 ka, an apparent difference in surface waters between these two regions exists in salinity, indicated by much fresher waters in the Timor Sea than in the WPWP. In contrast, there is little change in difference of sea surface temper- atures （SSTs）. With regard to thermocline temperature （TT）, it increased until -11.5 ka since the last glacial, and then re- mained an overall unchanged trend in the WPWP but continuously decreased in the Timor Sea towards the late Holocene. Since ~6 ka, thermocline waters have tended to be close to each other in between the Timor Sea and the WPWP. It is indicated that intensified precipitation due to East Asian monsoon and possible ENSO cold phase significantly freshened surface waters over the Indonesian Seas, impeding the ITF surface flow and in turn having enhanced thermocline flow during the Holocene. Consequently, thermocline water of the ITF outflow was cooling and thermocline was shoaling towards the late Holocene. It is speculated that, in addition to strengthening of East Asian winter monsoon, increasing ENSO events during the late Holocene likely played an important role in influencing thermocline depth of the ITF outflow.

SEASONAL VARIABILITY OF THE INDONESIAN THROUGHFLOW FROM A VARIABLE-GRID GLOBAL OCEAN MODEL

The objective of this study is to model the mean and seasonal mass transportof the Pacific to Indian O-cean throughflow using variable-grid global Ocean General CirculationModel (OGCM) with fine grid (1°/6) covering the area from 20°S to 60°N and from 98°E to 156°E.The computations show that Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) mass transport, computed as a sum ofthrough-strait transport, has maximum transport in Sept. (17. 5Sv) and minimum transport in Jan. (9.5Sv). The annual mean ITF transport amounts to 14. 5Sv. Twenty-two percent of this transport passesthrough Lombok Strait. Sixty-five percent of this transport passes through Timor Passage.Semi-annual variability is apparent in Lombok and Ombai Straits while annual variability is apparentin Timor Passage.

Indian monsoon variability in the Mahanadi Basin over the last two glacial cycles and its implications on the Indonesian throughflow

The orbital-scale variability of the Indian summer monsoon(ISM)has been influenced by multiple factors,such as atmospheric CO_(2)concentration,global ice volume,and insolation.Proxies for weathering activity and paleo-productivity provide potential insights into the driving forces of its variability.We documented multi-proxy data at IODP Site U1445,located in the Mahanadi Basin of the northwestern Bay of Bengal,to find out ISM variability over the last 200 ka.The proxy records,such as Nd/Sr isotopes of detrital particles,clay mineral compositions of the fine-grained sediments,biogenic opal and CaCO_(3),organic carbon contents,and carbon isotopes of organic matter,represent sediment sources,weathering patterns,and paleo-productivity related to the ISM variability.Detrital Nd/Sr isotope data and clay mineral compositions suggest that the sediments at Site U1445 originated mainly from the Ganges,Brahmaputra,and Meghna rivers without dramatic provenance change between the glacial and interglacial periods.The weathering activity inferred from clay mineral compositions and the paleo-productivity shift reconstructed by biogenic opal and CaCO_(3)contents suggest that the land-sea interactions were closely linked to the ISM precipitation between the glacial and interglacial periods.High precipitation by the strong ISM resulted in intense chemical weathering and dominant biogenic opal deposition during the interglacial periods.In contrast,low precipitation by the weak ISM led to reduced chemical weathering and predominant CaCO_(3)deposition during the glacial periods.Further,the ISM variability driving the land-sea interactions in the Mahanadi Basin was modulated by the Indonesian throughflow(ITF).Our study emphasizes the role of low-latitude forcing of climatic changes in the strong relationship between the ISM and ITF over orbital periods,providing a base for future investigations.

Indonesian Throughflow in an eddy-permitting oceanic GCM

An eddy-permitting quasi-global oceanic GCM was driven by wind stresses from reanalysis data for the pe- riod of 1958—2001 to get the time series of the upper circula- tion in the Indonesian Sea. The model represents a reason- able pathway of Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) with Makas- sar Strait making the major passage transfer the North Pa- cific water southward. The simulated annual mean ITF transport is 14.5 Sv, with 13.2 Sv in the upper 700 m. Annual cycle is the dominant signal for the seasonal climatology of the upper layer transport. Both the annual mean and sea- sonal cycle agree well with the observation. The overall cor- relation between the interannual anomaly of the ITF trans- port and Ni?o 3.4 index reaches ?0.65 in the simulation, which indicates that ENSO-related interannual variability in the Pacific is dominant in controlling the ITF transport. The relationship between the interannual anomalies of ITF and sea surface temperature in the Pacific, the Indian Ocean is not fixed in the simulation. In 1994, for instance, the intensive Indian Ocean sea surface temperature anomaly plays a dominant role in the formation of an impressive large transport of ITF.

Indonesian Throughflow in an eddy-resolving ocean model

The performance of the eddy-resolving LICOM2.0 in simulating the Indonesian Throughflow has been evaluated against the INSTANT data in the present study.The mean vertical structures of the along strait velocities are simulated well in LICOM2.0,but the large velocities at the bottom of the Lifamatola Passage and the Timor Passage cannot be reproduced by LICOM2.0.The causes are considered to be both the errors in the topography and the tidal mixing at the bottom.Despite several biases in the mean velocities,the mean inflow and outflow volume transports in LICOM2.0 are almost identical to the INSTANT data.Compared with the lower resolution LICOM,the most significant improvement is the better simulation of the partitions of the inflow and outflow transports in individual straits.The outflow for low-resolution LICOM is mainly through the Ombai and Lombok Strait,whereas that for LICOM2.0 is mainly through the Timor Passage.The variability of the vertical structure of velocities and the volume transport are also investigated.LICOM2.0 overestimates the magnitude of the upper-layer currents and the amplitude of the variation.We also found that the largest correlation coefficient occurs in the shallowest strait,the Lombok,whereas the lowest occurs in the Timor Passage,especially in the upper layer.The latter may be caused by the unrealistic transport through the Torres Strait in LICOM2.0.

The interdecadal variation of Indonesian Throughflow and its mechanism

The interdecadal variation of the volume and heat transport of Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) and its mechanism are preliminarily studied on the basis of the up- dated SODA data. It is found that the interdecadal variation of ITF’s volume transport is mainly concentrated in upper 714 m and that of ITF’s heat transport is mainly confined to upper 450 m. There is fairly consistent interdecadal variation in the depth-integrated seawater pressure above different depths in the region south of Davao, north of New Guinea and southwest of Australia. The depth-integrated pressure difference between northwest of Australia and south of Java has best correspondence with ITF’s volume transport on interdecadal time scales. The relation between the wind stress on the Pacific and ITF’s volume transport on interde- cadal time scales is studied based on Island Rule. It is shown that both the wind stress along the zonal lines just south of Australia and the Equator act as the dominant contributors to ITF’s volume transport, with the latter dominating the phase of ITF’s interdecadal variation. These results indicate that the atmospheric forcing and oceanic adjustment in the tropical region both contribute significantly to the ITF’s interdecadal variation.