Long-Term Trend and Variability of Volume Transport and Advective Heat Flux through the Boundaries of the Java Sea Based on a Global Ocean Circulation Model (1950–2013)

Abstract

The variability and trend of volume and advective heat flux, in addition to the net inflow and outflow of advective heat flux in the Java Sea for 64 years (1950–2013), along with its relationship with the monsoon, ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation), and IOD (Indian Ocean Dipole), have all been studied. A simulation of the 3D hydrodynamic HYCOM (HYbrid Coordinate Ocean Model) with a 1/8° grid resolution was performed in this study. Judging from the simulated results, the seasonal variability, which has a period of 12 months, has a very significant impact on contributing to the variability and trend of volume and advective heat flux, as well as the net inflow and outflow of advective heat flux in the Java Sea for 64 years. This is followed by interannual variability, which has a time range of 1.5–6.5 years, and interdecadal variability, with a period of 21.3–32 years. The interannual variability in the Java Sea is strongly caused by ENSO and IOD. El Niño and a positive IOD caused a weakening of southward transport through Karimata and the Bangka Strait. On the contrary, southward transport strengthened during La Niña and the negative IOD. Furthermore, La Niña and a positive IOD both strengthen (weaken) the transport westward (eastward) in the Sunda Strait (Eastern Java). On the other hand, El Niño and a negative IOD weaken (strengthen) the westward (eastward) transport in the Sunda Strait (Eastern Java). According to the findings, the IOD effect is stronger than the ENSO effect in the Java Sea. The inflow and outflow of volume transport in the Java Sea are in balance, but not the advective heat flux. The advective heat transported through Karimata and Bangka Strait to the Java Sea is up to 0.216 PW, while the total advective heat flux through the outflow straits (Sunda Strait and Eastern Java) is 0.220 PW. Thus, the net advective heat flux out of the Java Sea is 0.004 PW, allegedly obtained from an atmosphere–sea interaction in which the sea received heat from the atmosphere.