The Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

2027 Xiamen Symposium on Marine Environmental Sciences

January 12-15, 2027

Cross Equator Propagation of Indian Ocean Kelvin Waves in the Indonesian seas
ID:1526 Oral Presentation

2027-01-14 14:45 (China Standard Time)

Session:Session 17 - Modern and past processes of ocean-atmosphere-climate interactions in the low-latitude Pacific and Indian Ocean

Abstract
The propagation of intraseasonal Kelvin waves in the Indonesian seas significantly modulates the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF) transport. However, their northward propagation across the equator within the main ITF route, particularly through the Makassar Strait, has remained unverified due to a lack of in situ observations. This study presents simultaneous mooring observations of current velocity profiles at the choke points in the ITF's main pathway, from the Lombok Strait to the northern Makassar Strait. Our results confirm the propagation of intraseasonal Kelvin waves cross the equator reaching the northern Makassar Strait, primarily along the 100-m isobath. During the propagation, the dominant modes are the first and second baroclinic modes in the Indian Ocean, the second and third baroclinic modes between the Lombok and southern Makassar Straits, and the third to fifth baroclinic modes between the southern and northern Makassar Straits. Vertical mode decomposition reveals that the intraseasonal velocity anomaly in the northern Makassar Strait comprises the first five baroclinic modes, with the first two modes dominant in the upper 400 m and the third to fifth modes dominant at depths of 400–800 m. The cross-equator propagation of Kelvin waves through the Makassar Strait plays a pivotal role in linking oceanic fluctuations between the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Speaker
Tengfei Xu First Institute of Oceanography; Ministry of Natural Resources

Author
Tengfei Xu First Institute of Oceanography; Ministry of Natural Resources

    Important Dates

    • Jan 30

      2026

      Session / Event proposals open

    • Mar 31

      2026

      Session / Event proposals close
      (Extended to April 7)

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Session acceptance notifications

    • Apr 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions & registration open

    • Jun 30

      2026

      Abstract submissions close
      (Extended to July 21)

    • Aug 31

      2026

      Abstract acceptance notifications

    • Sep 15

      2026

      Scientific program released

    • Oct 15

      2026

      Early bird registration closes

    • Jan 12–15

      2027

      XMAS 2027