EFFECT OF MONSOON PHENOMENON ON SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURES IN INDONESIAN THROUGHFLOW REGION AND SOUTHEAST INDIAN OCEAN

Abstract

Indonesia is influenced by two types of monsoons, namely, the Asian and Australian monsoons. The differences in conditions occurring during these monsoon phenomena can affect sea surface temperatures (SSTs). This study aims to determine the effect of these monsoons on the SSTs in the southeast Indian Ocean and the Indonesian throughflow (ITF) region. SST and geostrophic current data obtained from Copernicus Marine Service and surface wind speed and direction data from the European Center for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) from March 2019 to February 2020 were statistically and descriptively analyzed. Observational conductivity–temperature–depth (CTD) data obtained in December 2019 were used to identify statistical errors in the Copernicus Marine Service SST data. The results of the SST data verification show a 0.85°C RMSE and 0.6°C MAE; they are significantly correlated at 0.82 with a 95% confidence level. The results of this study generally show that geostrophic currents move to the east, and SST tends to be warmer during the Asian monsoon period than during the Australian monsoon period, which has a cooler SST (with geostrophic currents moving to the northwest). Specifically, the SST conditions in the ITF region and southeast Indian Ocean cool from the MAM period. This cooling period intensifies during the JJA period and subsides in the SON period. The Australian monsoon, which is dominant during the DJF period, causes warmer-than-average SST conditions in the northern part of Indonesia, particularly the northern part of the ITF.