Indirect estimation of turbulent mixing in western route of Indonesian throughflow

Abstract

The Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) via its western path conveys mainly North Pacific water origin with Smax thermocline water and Smin intermediate water from its entry portal in Sangihe-Talaud arcs to the main outflow straits in Lombok, Ombai and Timor passage. Along its route, the throughflow water characteristics transforms significantly due to strong diapycnal mixing forced by internal tidal waves interaction along complex topography such as passages, sill, straits, and shallow islands chains. This paper reports a brief estimate of turbulent mixing profiles in Sangihe chains, and Makassar Strait. The CTD dataset are obtained from the year of maritime continent (YMC) Cruise in August 2019 on board the R.V. Baruna Jaya I. The Thorpe method is used to analysis dissipation energy ( ε ) and vertical diffusivity (Kz ) from CTD dataset. It is shown that the highest ε epsilon 5.87 × 10−7 Wkg −1 and Kz 4.42 × 10−3 m2s 1 are found in the Sangihe area. In Labani Channel and Dewakang Sill the averaged vertical diffusivity is much weaker at the order of 10−4 m 2s1. Thus, Sangihe Chains station have the highest values compared to other stations at depth 950-1000 meters.