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Volume Transport Variability in the Western Equatorial Pacific and its Relations to Halmahera Throughflow

Marlin Chrisye Wattimena, Agus Saleh Atmadipoera, Mulia Purba, I Wayan Nurjaya and Fadli Syamsudin

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, Volume 29, Issue 2, April 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.47836/pjst.29.2.26

Keywords: Cross-PSD, Halmahera throughflow, INDESO model, Western Equatorial Pacific

Published on: 30 April 2021

This study investigates the coherency of volume transport between Halmahera throughflow and current major system in the western equatorial Pacific Ocean (Mindanao Current – MC, New Guinea Coastal/Under Current – NGCC/NGCUC, and North Equatorial Counter Current – NECC). The validated daily ocean general circulation model datasets of INDESO (2010-2014) were used in this study. The results showed that the estimated average transport volume was 25.6 Sv flowing southward through MC, 34.5 Sv flowing eastward through NECC, 18.3 Sv flowing northwestward through NGCC/NGCUC, and 2.5 Sv flowing southward through the Halmahera Sea. The variability of volume transport was dominated by intraseasonal, semiannual, and annual time-scales. The increased transport of NECC corresponded to the intensification of MC and NGCC/NGCUC transports. NGCC/ NGCUC significantly controlled the South Pacific water inflow into the Halmahera Sea because of the positively high correlation between NGCC/NGCUC transport and Halmahera throughflow transport.

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ISSN 0128-7680

e-ISSN 2231-8526

Article ID

JST-2291-2020

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