The Role of Indonesian Throughflow in a Global Ocean GCM

Abstract

The effect of the Indonesian Throughflow on the World Ocean circulation is examined by a series of experiments with a global ocean GCM. The principal objective is to gain an understanding of how ocean flows respond to the throughflow, and how these changes result in changes in the pattern of surface heat flux and sea surface temperature. Four model runs are conducted. The first run features an open Indonesian passage through which a nonzero net throughflow is permitted. The second run features a complete blockage of the Indonesian passage. The third run is designed to isolate the effects of purely buoyancy-driven throughfiow: the Indonesian passage is open but the net volume transport is required to be zero. The fourth run is designed to isolate the effects of nonzero net throughflow on the Indian Ocean, independent of interocean buoyancy differences: the Indonesian passage is open but the throughflow water is cooled and salted toward profiles characteristic of the east Indian Ocean in the absenc... Abstract The effect of the Indonesian Throughflow on the World Ocean circulation is examined by a series of experiments with a global ocean GCM. The principal objective is to gain an understanding of how ocean flows respond to the throughflow, and how these changes result in changes in the pattern of surface heat flux and sea surface temperature. Four model runs are conducted. The first run features an open Indonesian passage through which a nonzero net throughflow is permitted. The second run features a complete blockage of the Indonesian passage. The third run is designed to isolate the effects of purely buoyancy-driven throughfiow: the Indonesian passage is open but the net volume transport is required to be zero. The fourth run is designed to isolate the effects of nonzero net throughflow on the Indian Ocean, independent of interocean buoyancy differences: the Indonesian passage is open but the throughflow water is cooled and salted toward profiles characteristic of the east Indian Ocean in the absenc...