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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Impacts of Indonesian Throughflow on seasonal circulation in the equatorial Indian Ocean

Impacts of the Indonesian Throughflow(ITF) on seasonal circulation in the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean are investigated using the ocean-only model LICOM by opening and closing ITF passages. LICOM had daily forcing from NCEP reanalysis data during 2000–2011. It can reproduce vertical profiles of mean density and buoyancy frequency of World Ocean Atlas 2013 data. The model also simulates well annual oscillation in the central Indian Ocean and semiannual oscillation in the eastern Indian Ocean of sea level anomalies(SLA) using satellite altimeter data, as well as the semiannual oscillation of surface zonal equatorial currents of Ocean Surface Current Analyses Real Time current data in the equatorial Indian Ocean. The wave decomposition method is used to analyze the propagation and reflection of equatorial long waves based on LICOM output. Wave analysis suggests that ITF blockage mainly influences waves generated from the Indian Ocean but not the Pacific Ocean, and eastern boundary reflections play an important role in semiannual oscillations of SLA and zonal current dif ferences in the equatorial Indian Ocean associated with ITF. Reconstructed ITF-caused SLA using wave decomposition coefficient dif ferences between closed and open ITF-passage experiments suggest both Kelvin and Rossby waves from the first baroclinic mode have comparable contributions to the semiannual oscillations of SLA diff erence. However, reconstructed ITFcaused surface zonal currents at the equator suggest that the first meridional-mode Rossby wave has much greater contribution than the first baroclinic mode Kelvin wave. Both reconstructed sea level and zonal currents demonstrate that the first baroclinic mode has a greater contribution than other baroclinic modes.

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

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.

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.

印度尼西亚—澳大利亚海盆上层海洋层结变化及其影响因素

本文基于ORAS5(ocean reanalysis system)和ERA5(ECMWF reanalysis v5)再分析数据,利用密度跃层底的浮力频率表征海洋层结的强度对印度尼西亚—澳大利亚海盆及其周边海域的海洋层结特性及其影响因素进行研究。结果显示:该海盆海洋层结在空间上表现为北部较强、南部较弱,在时间上表现为北半球春季较强、秋季较弱。对海盆内混合层温度和盐度变化的影响因素分析表明,海表通量和海洋平流作用的贡献非常显著,特别是与印尼贯穿流相关的纬向平流通过影响次表层密度结构进而对跃层底层结产生重要影响。进一步分析印尼贯穿流通量对海盆内海洋层结的影响,发现了印尼贯穿流通量与该海盆的混合层界面上下的温盐异常密切相关,该盐度异常通过影响其垂向密度梯度进而对海洋层结的季节变化产生影响。

龙目和翁拜海峡海流季节内变化特征与机制分析

基于INSTANT(International Nusantara Stratification And Transport)观测资料的分析,龙目和翁拜海峡不同深度流量的季节内变化具有不同的显著周期。根据这一特征,龙目海峡水体输送可分为150 m以浅和150~300 m两层,其显著周期分别为30~70 d和30~40 d,前者由第二斜压模Kelvin波引起,而后者受第一斜压模Kelvin波影响;翁拜海峡水体输送可分为4层,300 m以浅为准40 d和50~75 d振荡,300~600 m为30~45 d和55~75 d振荡,600~1 000 m为30~40 d、准50 d、60~75 d振荡,1 000~1 200 m为30~40 d振荡以及较弱的20 d以下高频振荡。起源于赤道中印度洋的季节内Kelvin波的传播过程是引起龙目和翁拜海峡海洋季节内变化的重要因素,它在水平向东传播的同时,在垂直方向也会引起位相的传播,且率先抵达深层。据估算,海洋季节内变化从赤道中印度洋传播至龙目和翁拜海峡的速度约为1.59~2.95 m/s,由第一和第二斜压模Kelvin波构成。苏门答腊-爪哇岛沿岸风对季节内Kelvin波的传播也有重要影响。

基于INSTANT数据对ITF流出海峡海流的功率谱分析

利用INSTANT(The International Nusantara Stratification and Transport,努沙登加拉层结及输运的国际联合观测计划)计划所测得的流场数据,研究了ITF(Indonesian Throughflow,印度尼西亚贯穿流)在主要流出海峡——龙目海峡(Lombok Strait)、翁拜海峡(Ombai Strait)和帝汶海峡(Timor Passage)随深度和时间的变化,并对表层和温跃层的流速进行了功率谱分析。研究发现,ITF流场在龙目和翁拜海峡表层有显著的年循环,在季风转换期间各个层次上海流都会出现反转,从印度洋流向海峡内;而帝汶海峡在300m以下出现反转流。3个海峡的表层流都以年周期为主,温跃层的流以半年变化为主,并且都有丰富的季节内变化。高频部分,除了在龙目海峡表层K1日潮占优外,各海峡均以M2半日潮为主。

An overview of 10-year observation of the South China Sea branch of the Pacific to Indian Ocean throughflow at the Karimata Strait

Besides the Indonesian throughflow(ITF), the South China Sea throughflow(SCSTF) also contributes to the water transport from the Pacific to the Indian Ocean. However, this South China Sea(SCS) branch at the Karimata Strait is poorly observed until 2007, even though its importance has been suggested by numerical studies for decades. In this paper, we review the nearly 10-year field measurement in the Karimata Strait by the execution of the projects of "SCS-Indonesian Seas Transport/Exchange(SITE) and Impacts on Seasonal Fish Migration" and "The Transport, Internal Waves and Mixing in the Indonesian Throughflow regions(TIMIT) and Impacts on Marine Ecosystem", which extend the observations from the western Indonesian seas to the east to include the main channels of the ITF, is introduced. Some major achievements from these projects are summarized.

ITF in a coupled GCM and its interannual variability related to ENSO and IOD

The interannual variability of the mass transport of the Indonesian Throughflow （ITF） is very possible to be connected with the E1 Nino-Southem Oscillation （ENSO） in the Pacific Ocean and/or the Indian Ocean Dipole （IOD）. The IPSL （Institute Pierre-Simon Laplace） coupled general circulation model （CGCM） was employed to examine the interannual variability of the ITF and understand its relationship with the climatic variation in both the basins. A 1 000 a integration was conducted and an annual mean model output was utilized. The pathways of the simulated ITF are reasonable within the Indonesian seas. The major transport occurs in the upper 300 m, with an annual mean transport of 15.68×106 m^3/s, among which the 13.83×1^6 m^3/s through the Makassar Strait is the principal component. The interannual variability of the ITF transport is significant in a 2～4 a period. The relationship between sea level differences across the Indonesian seas （sites in the western Pacific north of the equator and south coast of Java, respectively） and the ITF transport is straightforward on the interannual time-scale with a simultaneous correlation of 0.82. Further investigation indicates that the preceding climatic variation in the tropical Pacific is related to the ITF transport anomaly. The ENSO-like pattem leads the extreme of ITF transport by 1 a, with the correlation between a Nifio 3 SST index and the ITF transport of 0.37. It means that there tends to be an E1 Nino anomaly in the Pacific 1 a before a large ITF transport. The simultaneous correlation between the Nino 3 SST index and the ITF transport is -0.34. The patterns of sea surface temperature and sea surface height are, however, not the typical ENSO anomaly. The ITF transport is more related to the concurrent interannual variability over the Indian Ocean. The simultaneous correlation between the ITF transport and the dipole mode index is 0.46 and the pattem of upper layer anomaly is much like that of the IOD.