Physical Oceanography of the Indian Ocean
27
The South Equatorial Current, situated north of this high-pressure ridge is formed to
the south of Java. It draws some water from the Timor Sea, and southwest of the Sunda
Strait it is strengthened by water from the countercurrent or the monsoon current,
turning south and west. In the western parts of the ocean the current transports between
40 and 55 megatons seCt, with highest transports occurring during the SW monsoon.
When approaching the northern tip of Madagascar, the current splits with about two(dynamic em)
Fig. S. Dynamic topography of the sea surface relative to 1000 decibars during July and August
thirds of the water passing north of Madagascar and one-third turning south along its
east coast.
An upwelling area is developed south of Java during the SW monsoon season, when
winds are blowing strongly from the SE between Australia and Indonesia. During this
season the South Equatorial Current flows right along the coast of Java and the baroclinic
adjustment in the current together with offshore Ekman transports cause a substantial
uplift of subsurface water, but little depression of the surface temperature. Nutrient
concentrations in the layer above 100 m depth increase substantially, although not as
much as in the region off Arabia. On the other hand, the enriched area is much larger,
which is probably due to the advection of water from the upwelling areas in the Banda and
27
The South Equatorial Current, situated north of this high-pressure ridge is formed to
the south of Java. It draws some water from the Timor Sea, and southwest of the Sunda
Strait it is strengthened by water from the countercurrent or the monsoon current,
turning south and west. In the western parts of the ocean the current transports between
40 and 55 megatons seCt, with highest transports occurring during the SW monsoon.
When approaching the northern tip of Madagascar, the current splits with about two(dynamic em)
Fig. S. Dynamic topography of the sea surface relative to 1000 decibars during July and August
thirds of the water passing north of Madagascar and one-third turning south along its
east coast.
An upwelling area is developed south of Java during the SW monsoon season, when
winds are blowing strongly from the SE between Australia and Indonesia. During this
season the South Equatorial Current flows right along the coast of Java and the baroclinic
adjustment in the current together with offshore Ekman transports cause a substantial
uplift of subsurface water, but little depression of the surface temperature. Nutrient
concentrations in the layer above 100 m depth increase substantially, although not as
much as in the region off Arabia. On the other hand, the enriched area is much larger,
which is probably due to the advection of water from the upwelling areas in the Banda and