Impact of the Indonesian Throughflow on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

Abstract

In the ITAMOC project, we aim to study the connection between the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) and the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (MOC) using a very high-resolution global ocean model. The strength of the ITF may affect the transport through the Mozambique Channel and hence that of the Agulhas Current more southward. The strength of the Agulhas Current controls the leakage of heat and salt from the Indian Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean through Agulhas rings. This interbasin salt transport is thought to be a crucial factor in controlling the strength of the MOC. We will investigate the connection between ITF and MOC using the Parallel Ocean Program (POP) model with a horizontal resolution of 0.1 degrees and 45 vertical levels. In addition to a control type simulation of 20 years under climatological forcing, two basic simulations are planned under observed daily atmospheric forcing over the period 1990-2010: one with realistic representation of the Indonesian Archipelago and one with a closure of the Indonesian Throughflow.