Dynamics of the Makassar Strait

Data collected as part of the Arlindo Project ("Arlindo" is an acronym for Arus Lintas Indonesia, meaning "throughflow" in Bahasa Indonesia) from Octo ber 1996 to March 1998 are analyzed to study the characteristics of the flo w through the Makassar Strait. Analysis of inverted echo sounders (IES) and bottom pressure data (PIES) combined with TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite-derived sea height anomaly suggest that a minimum of three-layer approximation is necessary to explain the dynamics of the flow in the Makassar Strait. The s imple two-layer model used in several studies of the throughflow is rejecte d based on total incompatibility with the data sets. A three-layer model wi th significant contributions by the middle layer provides a consistent inte rpretation of PIES and satellite data. Results are interpreted in the frame work of the large-scale circulation.