Modification of the Stratification and Velocity Profile within the Straits and Seas of the Indonesian Archipelago
Abstract
To improve our understanding of the energetic ocean physical processes within the northeastern Indonesian seas, as needed to improve our simulation of the regional circulation and mixing patterns. The gap in understanding basic ocean physics of the Indonesian seas is most acute in the northeastern seas: the Halmahera Sea, Maluku Sea, the Seram Sea and the northern Banda Sea. Besides the monsoonal forcing there is an abundance of intraseasonal features of varied scales, derived from: the energetic Pacific western boundary currents that project into the region way of the Mindanao and Halmahera Retroflectionms (Eddies); localized winds blowing through the gaps between the islands composing the Spice Island configuration, inducing submesoscale clockwise and counterclockwise wind stress structures; strong tidal currents amidst the array of small seas and narrow passages. These factors make for a vigorous turbulent environment, one that is poorly understood, yet it is necessary to develop a quantitative grasp of the associated small scale ocean processes to properly model the regional circulation, and its role in the climate and marine ecosystems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA556923
Entities
People
- Arnold L. Gordon
Organizations
- Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory