INDIAN OCEAN SITE DESCRIPTIONS
Table of Contents
Site: Indonesian Throughflow in Makassar Strait ........................................................................... 2
Site: Research Moored Array for African-Asian-Australian Monsoon Analysis and Prediction
(RAMA) .................................................................................................................................................. 8
Site: NIOT moored buoy network .................................................................................................... 13
Site: LOCO Indian Ocean (Mozambique Channel)...................................................................... 19
Version Tracking:
Creation/Update date
Updated By
August 2009
Hester Viola
1
Comments
www.oceansites.org
Site: Indonesian Throughflow in Makassar Strait
Position: 3°N-12°S 116°E-125°E
Categories: operating; transport; physical
Safety distance for ship operations: varies – please contact bhuber@ldeo.columbia.edu before
any planned ship operations in vicinity of these moorings. If in doubt, do not approach within 1 x
water depth as most moorings have near-surface expression and a potential watch circle radius of
greater than 500 m.
Short description:
Number of stations / moorings and variables measured:
The Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) links two oceans and in so doing provides a pathway for modifying
the stratification within each of these oceans as well as sea-air fluxes that impact on such climate
phenomena as ENSO and the Asian Monsoon. The complex geography of the region, with multiple
narrow constrictions connecting a series of large, deep basins, leads to a circuitous ITF pathway
within the Indonesia seas. En-route the Pacific inflow waters are modified before export to the Indian
Ocean due to mixing, upwelling and air-sea fluxes. While a number of measurement programs have
recently been undertaken in the Indonesian region, a serious shortcoming is their lack of temporal
coherence: the data cover different time periods and depths in the different passages of the complex
pathways linking the Pacific and Indian Oceans. This has lead to ambiguity of the mean and variable
nature of the ITF, and of the transformation of the thermohaline and transport profiles within the
interior seas. The INSTANT (International Nusantara STratification ANd Transport) program,
involving contributions of 5 countries (USA, France, Netherlands, Australia, Indonesia), offers the
opportunity to finally measure in coordinated fashion the ITF in the key throughflow passages
simultaneously.
The INSTANT objectives are:




To determine the full depth velocity and property structure of the Throughflow and its associated
heat and freshwater flux;
To resolve the annual, seasonal, and intraseasonal characteristics of the ITF transport and
property flux;
To investigate the storage and modification of the ITF waters within the internal Indonesian seas,
from their Pacific source characteristics to the ITF water exported into the Indian Ocean; and
To contribute to the design of a cost-effective, long-term monitoring strategy for the ITF.
Groups / P.I.s /labs /countries involved / responsible:
Project Leaders: see http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/projects/instant.shtml
Country
2
P.I.s
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ITF Mooring Components:
Makassar Strait
Lombok Strait
Ombai Strait
Timor Passage
Timor Passage
Lifamatola Passage
Supporting/Proxy Measurements:
CTD and Underway ADCP
Lesser Sunda Pressure Gauges
XBT Network
Tide Gauges
Meteorological Network
ARGO Floats
Ship Facilities:
Baruna Jaya
USA
USA
USA
Australia
France
Netherlands
Gordon, Field, Susanto [LDEO]
Sprintall [SIO]
Sprintall [SIO]
Wijffels [CSIRO]
Molcard, Fieux [LODYC]
van Aken [NIOZ]
Indonesia
USA
Australia
Indonesia
Indonesia
Australia
BPPT
Sprintall [SIO]
Wijffels, Meyers [CSIRO]
Bakosurtanal (survey and mapping)
Badan Meteorologi dan Geofisika
Wijffels [CSIRO]
Indonesia
BPPT
Status
The transfer of tropical Pacific water into the Indian Ocean through the Indonesian seas, the
so-called The Indonesian Throughflow (ITF), is a significant part of the ocean system of interocean
fluxes, ocean-scale heat and freshwater budgets and sea-air fluxes. The ITF is believed to provide an
interactive link with the ENSO and Asian monsoon climate features. Additionally, the ITF to a large
extent governs the overall oceanographic stratification, circulation and ecosystems within the
Indonesian Seas.
The ITF amounts to ~12 Sv, >80% of which is channeled through Makassar Strait. The 45 km
wide Labani constriction of Makassar Strait near 3°S is an ideal place to measure the bulk of the ITF.
There the throughflow was measured during the NSF funded INSTANT program from January 2004
to November 2006. The Figures 1, 2 3 provide a view of the 3 year INSTANT time series within
Makassar Strait.
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The objective of the NOAA/OCO program is to extend the INSTANT time series so as to establish a
long-term measurement program of the ITF within Makassar Strait. Such an extended time series
(decadal scale) is needed to better relate the ITF to such climate fluctuations as those associated with
El Niño, the Indian Ocean Dipole and of the Asian monsoon. “Monitoring the Indonesian Throughflow”
contributes to the global ocean observational system overseen by the Joint GCOS-GOOS-WCRP
Ocean Observations Panel for Climate (OOPC), http://ioc3.unesco.org/oopc/
Accomplishments:
Immediately after the INSTANT moorings were recovered on 22 November 2006, with NOAA OCO
support, a single mooring at the site of the INSTANT MAK-WEST 2°51.11'S; 118°27.33'E was
deployed [Figure 4]. The NOAA Makassar mooring will be recovered and redeployed in April 2009. A
two-year rotation schedule is the plan, with specific dates dependent on ship availability (which
explains the slightly longer than 2 year deployment of this 1st rotation).
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Figure 4: Configuration of the NOAA-ITF Makassar mooring deployed in November 2006 at the Red X
in the bathymetry map of Makassar Strait.
During the fy08 period we engaged in discussion concerning the timing of the mooring rotation, which
is now scheduled for the April/May period of 2009, at the end of the present fy08 funded increment.
In June 2008 we signed the Implementation Agreement defining the parameters of the cooperative
effort between Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and Agency for Marine and Fisheries Research
(BRKP).
When we obtain the first products of the NOAA/OCO Makassar ITF mooring the data will be
processed and placed on a web site at Lamont, where it will be available for the community. This will
be updated within 12 months of every mooring rotation.
Technology:
The main instrumentation in the INSTANT program consists of moorings with self recording ADCPs,
current meters and additional temperature/pressure and temperature/conductivity/pressure recorders.
The moorings will record the current over the complete water depth. The moorings do not have realtime telemetry. During the deployment, servicing, and recovery cruises hydrographic observations
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(CTD) are carried out.
Data policy:

delayed mode data: restricted access
The data policy is defined in the INSTANT letter of intent. During the project the data will be
available for all participants in the INSTANT program. The data will be published in cooperation
with Indonesian counterparts before 2008. After that date the data will be public.
Data management:
The data management for INSTANT has not yet been defined.
Societal value / Users / customers:
The combined data set from the international INSTANT mooring experiment and the supporting
observational network, will leverage our individual measurements to understand the broad spectrum
of variability in the ITF, and the role that regional oceanography plays in establishing the transfer
function between the Pacific inflow and the outflow into the Indian Ocean. Furthermore this
comprehensive portrayal of the Indonesian throughflow and its variability will allow for development of
improved global ocean and climate models, enabling more accurate predictive capability.
Role in the integrated global observing system:
The Indonesian throughflow will allow for closure of the ocean basin scale transport and
heat/freshwater fluxes.
Links / Web-sites:


for Project information : http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/div/ocp/projects/instant.shtml
for data access: when made public, the data will be available via the above project website.
Contacts Project Manager: Arnold L. Gordon agordon@ldeo.columbia.edu
Co-Investigator: R.Dwi Susanto dwi@ldeo.columbia.edu
Compiled/ updated by: Arnold Gordon (October 2008)
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Site: Research Moored Array for African-Asian-Australian
Monsoon Analysis and Prediction (RAMA)
Position: Eight sites are designated within RAMA in various regions of the tropical and subtropical
Indian Ocean as described below.
Categories: Observatory and
biogeochemical measurements.
air-sea
flux
reference
sites
with
physical,
meteorological,
Safety distance for ship operations: 2 nautical miles. See
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/proj_over/taobuoy.html
Short description:
A total of eight sites are designated within the framework of RAMA (Fig. 1). Two sites are located
along the equator (55°E and 80.5°E), one site in the Arabian Sea (15°N, 65°E), one site in the Bay of
Bengal (15°N, 90°E), one site along the thermocline ridge centered south of the equator (8°S, 67°E),
one site in the southwestern basin (16°S, 55°E), one site in the region offshore of the Java upwelling
zone (5°S, 95°E), and one site in the subduction zone of the southeastern subtropical Indian Ocean
(25°S, 97°E).
Scientific rationale:
The sites have been chosen on the basis of their location in regions of strong ocean-atmosphere
interactions. In addition, several of the sites are located in regions where currently available flux
products are widely divergent in terms of their net mean values of air-sea heat exchange. The data
from these sites will be used for describing new phenomena, for diagnostic studies, for model
validation, and for satellite validation. They will also be valuable in helping us to understand and
resolve the biases between the various heat flux products. Below is a brief site-by-site summary of
salient features.
Arabian Sea (15°N, 65°E): Strong seasonally reversing monsoon winds, large seasonal variations in
SST, high SSTs before the onset of the southwest monsoon, significant latent heat losses during the
southwest monsoon. Current heat flux products have difficulties in producing the intensity of latent
heat losses in the southwest monsoon season.
Bay of Bengal (15°N, 90°E): Large seasonal and intraseasonal variations in surface heat and fresh
water fluxes, thin salinity stratified mixed layers, significant air-sea interactions associated with
tropical cyclones and instraseasonal variability. Current heat flux products show large differences
here and disagree on whether the region should gain heat from the atmosphere on annual mean
basis (Fig. 2b).
Western Equatorial Indian Ocean (0°, 55°E): Located in the western SST index region for Indian
Ocean Dipole Zonal Mode and a region of high net heat flux into the ocean (Fig. 2a). Current heat flux
products show large differences here due to differences in net solar radiation (Fig. 2b).
Central Equatorial Indian Ocean (0°, 80.5°E): Strong semiannual wind forcing associated with the
monsoon transition westerlies, significant intraseasonal variability associated with the Madden-Julian
Oscillation. Current heat flux products show large differences here due largely to differences in net
surface radiation (Fig. 2b). Various precipitation products also show large differences here.
Eastern Equatorial Indian Ocean (5°S, 95°E): Offshore of the Java coastal upwelling zone in the
eastern SST index regions for the Indian Ocean Dipole Zonal Mode. Current heat flux products show
large biases here and cannot agree on the sign of the annual mean net heat flux. This is also another
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region where precipitation products show large differences (Fig. 2b).
Thermocline Ridge (8°S, 67°E): Region of large seasonal and interannual variations in the
thermocline ridge that are correlated with SST variations; and a region of large intraseasonal
variations in SST. Current heat flux products show large differences here and do not agree on the
sign of the annual mean net heat flux (Fig. 2b).
Subduction Zone (25°S, 97°E): Located in the southeast subtropical Indian Ocean where mixed layer
water masses are subducted into the subtropical pycnocline. This is also a region of large mean
oceanic heat loss to the atmosphere (Fig. 2a).
Southwestern Indian Ocean (16°S, 55°E): Located in a region where variability in the thermocline
ridge and SST are significantly correlated with tropical cyclone activity.
Groups / P.I.s /labs /countries involved / responsible:
Sites currently operating are 5°S, 95°E, 0°, 80.5°E, 15°N, 90°E and 8°S, 67°E. PIs are K. Ando of
JAMSTEC (5°S, 95°E) and M. J. McPhaden of NOAA//PMEL (80.5°E, 90°E and 67°E). The 80.5°E
and 90°E sites represent a collaboration between NOAA/PMEL and the Indian Ministry of Earth
Sciences (MoES). The 67°E site represents a collaboration between NOAA/PMEL and LOCEAN,
University of Paris. Other sites are not yet occupied. It is anticipated that PMEL will maintain
additional sites as part of its contribution to RAMA in collaboration with other organizations as
additional ship time and funding becomes available. Other countries, institutions, and P.I.s are
encouraged to participate in the establishment of these sites. NOAA/PMEL anticipates placing CO 2
sensors on all 8 moorings within the next five years. This work will likely be in collaboration with
international partners. The lead P.I. for the pCO2 systems is Christopher Sabine at PMEL.
Status:
Four sites are operational. These sites are presently serviced at yearly intervals and will be
maintained for the foreseeable future. The JAMSTEC site is described in detail in a separate
submission. Currently there are no CO2 measurements on these moorings.
Technology:
The basic technology used at PMEL sites is the ATLAS mooring, which measures meteorological and
physical
oceanographic
data
to
depths
of
500
m
(see
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/proj_over/mooring.shtml). ATLAS moorings at flux reference sites
measure surface winds, air temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, shortwave radiation, longwave
radiation, and sea level pressure, ocean temperatures at a minimum of 13 depths between the
surface and 500 m, ocean salinity at a minimum of 8 depths between the surface and 100 m, and
ocean currents at 4 depths between 10 m and 200 m. All data are transmitted in real-time as daily
averages and a few spot hourly values. Data are stored internally at 10-minute intervals, except for
rainfall at 1 minute intervals, short and long wave radiation at 2 minute intervals, and surface air
pressure at 1 hour intervals. Equatorial ATLAS moorings are deployed next to nearby (within about 10
km) subsurface ADCP moorings to provide hourly velocity measurements between depths of about
20-250 m with 8 m vertical resolution. The TRITON mooring used at 5°S, 95°E is functionally
equivalent to an ATLAS mooring in most respects in terms of measurement suite and sampling
schemes. The pCO2 measurements will be LiCor based infrared detection systems mounted in the
surface buoy with an equilibrator for surface water pCO 2 measurements. Surface ocean and
atmospheric carbon measurements are made every 3 hours.
Data policy:
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All data (real-time and delayed mode) are freely available without restriction.
Data management:
ATLAS and TRITON data are internally recorded and transmitted from buoy to shore in real-time via
Service Argos. Service Argos places most real-time data on the Global Telecommunications System
(GTS). ADCP data are internally recorded only. Data are freely available on the World Wide Web
without restriction in near-real time (delay of one day for ATLAS and two days for TRITON) and in
delayed mode after moorings are recovered and data are post-processed. Extensive metadata are
available from TAO and TRITON web pages, from data reports, and from the data files themselves.
Measurements of pCO2 will be made every 3-hours and transmitted daily via Iridium to be posted to
the WWW. Final calibrated data will be submitted to the Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
and made freely available within 6 months of recovery.
Societal value / Users / customers:
Data users include the research community, the weather and climate forecasting communities, the
climate assessments community, policy makers, and the general public.
Role in the integrated global observing system:
The designated sites are an integral part of the CLIVAR/GOOS Indian Ocean Observing System
(IndOOS), which is a component of the Global Ocean Observing System (GOOS) and the Global
Climate Observing System (GCOS). It is also a contribution to the Global Earth Observing System of
Systems (GEOSS). The planned carbon observations are a key element of the U.S. Ocean Carbon
and Climate Change Program (OCCC) as well as the international Integrated Marine Biogeochemistry
and Ecosystem Research (IMBER) and Surface Ocean Lower Atmosphere (SOLAS) programs.
Contact Persons:
Michael J. McPhaden, NOAA/PMEL (michael.j.mcphaden@noaa.gov)
Kentaro Ando (andouk@jamstec.go.jp@jamstec.go.jp)
Yukio Masumoto (gary.meyers@csiro.au)
Carbon contacts: Christopher
(Bronte.Tilbrook@csiro.au)
L.
Sabine
(chris.sabine@noaa.gov)
and
Bronte
Tilbrook
Links / Web-sites:
Indian Ocean Observing System: http://www.clivar.org/
RAMA: http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/global/global.html
TAO OceanSITES: http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/oceansites/index.html
Data access: http://www.jamstec.go.jp/triton/data_deliv/ and http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/disdel
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Compiled by:
Michael J. McPhaden (NOAA/PMEL) with input from Gary Meyers (WHOI), Lisan Yu (WHOI),
Yoshifumi Kuroda (JAMSTEC), VSN Murty (NIO), Chris Sabine (NOAA/PMEL), Bronte Tillbrook
(CSIRO).
June 2005.
Revised by Michael J. McPhaden (NOAA/PMEL), January 2009
Figure 1: Draft plan for RAMA.
(a)
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(b)
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Figure 2: (a) Mean and (b) standard deviation of record length means from an ensemble of six
surface heat flux products in the tropical Indian Ocean. The six products are OFA+ISSCP
(WHOI), NCEP/NCAR reanalysis (NCEP1), NCEP/DOE reanalysis (NCEP2), ECMWF
operational analysis, ECMWF reanalysis (ERA-40), and Southampton Oceanography Centre
(SOC) analysis. (Courtesy of L. Yu, WHOI).
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Site: NIOT moored buoy network
Buoy
Parameter
Sensor SN:
(Vendor
designated
series number
of the sensor,
other
parameters
may also be
associated with
this sensor)
OB10
Air pressure
A3330001
Sensor
Sensor
Sensor
Sensor
Model or
Vendor:
Sampling
Reporting
Frequency:
Time1:
Part
Number:
(Vendor
designated
model or
part
number of
the sensor)
PTB220
(Name of
the sensor
vendor)
Vaisala
(Instantaneous
or frequency in
HZ or every 15
second etc)
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-1
No of sample10
Wind speed
731548.0018
1453 S2
F1000
Lambrecht
Wind
direction
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-1
No of sample600
25760
620
Vale port
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-1
SST
No of sample10
Air
Temperature
49241009
MP101A
Rotronic
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-1
1
(UTC time represents middle, beginning, or end of sampling periods, indicate if sensor reporting time
differs from the corresponding platform message reporting time)
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Humidity
No of sample600
Wave height
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
Wave
direction
2354
MRU-6
*Note-1
Konsberg
No of sample1024
Wave period
OB12
Air pressure
A1640013
PTB220
Vaisala
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-1
No of sample10
Wind Speed
731197.0003
1453 S2
F1000
Lambrecht
Wind
direction
Air
Temperature
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
No of sample600
46741.033
MP101A
Rotronic
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
Humidity
No of sample600
Wave height
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
Wave
direction
*Note-1
349
MRU-6
*Note-1
*Note-1
Konsberg
No of sample1024
Wave period
CVAL
Air pressure
Z2850002
PTB220
Vaisala
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-1
No of sample10
Wind speed
731548.0010
1453 S2
F1000
Lambrecht
Wind
direction
SST
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-1
No of sample600
23012
620
Vale port
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-1
No of sample10
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Air
Temperature
46741017
MP101A
Rotronic
Air pressure
*Note-1
No of sample600
Humidity
MB24
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
A1640010
PTB220
Vaisala
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of sample10
Wind speed
1453 S2
F1000
Wind
direction
740209.0016
SST
02-0704-00051033
Lambrecht
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of samples 600
KDS-085
Astra
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of sample10
Air
Temperature
MP101A
Rotronic
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
49241007
No of samples 600
Humidity
MB20
Air pressure
C1050007
PTB220
Vaisala
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of sample10
Wind speed
Wind
direction
SST
1453 S2
F1000
Lambrecht
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
740209.0033
No of samples 600
02-0704-00051031
KDS-085
Astra
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of sample10
Air
Temperature
MP101A
Rotronic
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
46741028
Humidity
15
No of samples 600
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MB23
Air pressure
Z2850008
PTB220
Vaisala
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of sample10
Wind speed
1453 S2
F1000
Wind
direction
731547.0006
SST
02-0704-00051057
Lambrecht
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of samples 600
KDS-085
Astra
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of sample10
Air
Temperature
MP101A
Rotronic
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
49241021
No of samples 600
Humidity
MB26
Air pressure
A3330010
PTB220
Vaisala
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of sample10
Wind speed
1453 S2
F1000
Wind
direction
731548.0005
SST
02-0704-00051035
Lambrecht
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of samples 600
KDS-085
Astra
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of sample10
Air
Temperature
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
46741032
MP101A
Rotronic
No of samples 600
Humidity
MB04
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
Air pressure
*Note-2
C0420016
PTB220
*Note-2
Vaisala
No of sample10
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Wind speed
Wind
direction
1453 S2
F1000
Lambrecht
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
740209.0019
No of samples 600
02-0704-00051033
KDS-085
Astra
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
SST
No of sample10
Air
Temperature
MP101A
Rotronic
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
49241020
No of samples 600
Humidity
MB09
Air pressure
PTB220
Vaisala
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
C0420001
No of sample10
Wind speed
731547.0007
1453 S2
F1000
Lambrecht
Wind
direction
SST
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of samples 600
02-0704-00051050
KDS-085
Astra
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of sample10
Air
Temperature
Humidity
46741029
MP101A
Rotronic
Sampling
interval – 1 sec
*Note-2
No of samples 600
*Note-1
Platform message reporting time is every 3 hours. Respective sensors will be switched on before the
transmitting time, taking into account all timings inclusive of settling time, sampling duration etc of the
individual sensor.
*Note-2
Platform message reporting time is every 1-hour. Respective sensors will be switched on before the
transmitting time, taking into account all timings inclusive of settling time, sampling duration etc of the
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individual sensor.
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Site: LOCO Indian Ocean (Mozambique Channel)
Position: ~ 17°S , 40-43E
Categories: transport, physical
Short description:



mooring array consisting of 7 moorings located across the shallowest section of the Mozambique
Channel
variables measured: currents, T, S
start date of the timeseries, service interval: November 2003, serviced every 1.5-2 years
Scientific rationale:
A pilot-project with an array of current meter moorings in 2000-2001 showed that the meridional mass
transport through the Mozambique Channel fluctuates remarkably regularly with values between 20
Sv northwards and 60 Sv southwards. The mean transport for this one year of observations was
some 15 Sv southwards. The spatial structure of the current field suggested that during the periods
with a strong southward flow a current jet separates from the African coast and forms a large anticyclonic eddy. These eddies migrate southward, interact with the Agulhas current and seem to
initialize the meandering of the Agulhas current, thereby influence the formation of Agulhas rings.
Thus the flow in Mozambique Channel is of importance not only for the tropical-subtropical transport
in the Indian Ocean but also for the Indian-Atlantic ocean exchange.
At intermediate and deep levels against the African continental slope a northward flowing
Mozambique Undercurrent was observed with a mean northward speed of 4.6 cms -1 (1500 m) and 4.5
cms-1 (2500 m). Hydrographic observations showed that the deepest flow consists of North Atlantic
Deep Water. As part of the LOCO program a new array of moorings, with much more current meters,
ADCP’s and T-S sensors, was deployed at the narrowest section in the Mozambique Channel in
November 2003. These sub-surface moorings will be serviced each 1.5 years and the observations
will continue till at least 2012. The observations will be used mainly to quantify the variability of the
meridional mass and heat transport, to relate this variability to Indian Ocean (or El Nino) climate
modes and to study the relation between this variability and the ‘downstream’ formation of Agulhas
Rings.
Groups / P.I.s /labs /countries involved / responsible:



Prof. dr. H. Ridderinkhof, Royal NIOZ, PO Box 59, 1790AB Den Burg, the Netherlands; e-mail:
rid@nioz.nl
dr. H. van Aken, Royal NIOZ, PO Box 59, 1790AB Den Burg, the Netherlands; e-mail:
aken@nioz.nl
Prof. Dr. W.P.M. de Ruijter, IMAU, PO Box 80000, 3508 TA Utrecht, the Netherlands,
W.P.M.deRuijter@phys.uu.nl
Status:


operating
A consortium of three Dutch institutions (Royal NIOZ, IMAU, KNMI) have obtained a large grant
for investments in the Long-term Ocean Climate Observations (LOCO) programme. The program
is embedded in the WCRP - CLIVAR programme and is funded by the Netherlands Organisation
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
for Scientific Research (NWO).
Presently funding is available for continuation of these observations till at least 2012.
Technology:
Moored sub-surface observations with ADCP’s, current meters and CTD sensors
Data policy:
No real time data will be available. The delayed mode data will become public once they have been
processed.
Role in the integrated global observing system:
The observations will be used mainly to quantify the variability of the meridional mass and heat
transport, to relate this variability to Indian Ocean (or El Nino) climate modes and to study the relation
between this variability and the ‘downstream’ formation of Agulhas Rings.
Contact Persons: H. Ridderinkhof, H. van Aken and W.P.M. de Ruijter
Links / Web-sites:
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for Project information: http://www.nioz.nl/projects/acsex
for data access (if public): http://www.nioz.nl/dmg
Compiled /updated by: Herman Ridderinkhof (February 2009)
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