B. Semedi, A. Purnomosakti, D. K. Saputra, I.B. Wahyono and A. Soegianto
Abstract
Indonesiaâs sea is located between two major oceans, Pacific and Indian Ocean. Indonesian Through flow(ITF) carries water mass from Pacific Ocean through Indonesiaâs sea into Indian Ocean throughout the year. ITF enters Indonesiaâs sea from Makassar Strait then water mass is distributed into two passage, west and east passage. Baliâs sea is chosen to represent the ITF west exit passage while South Java Sea is chosen because it directly shares border with Indian Ocean, the final destination of ITF water circulation. The data used in this research was obtained using Baruna Jaya IV Research Vessel on RV Baruna Jaya IV Cruise.Measurements of ocean parameters was conducted using Conductivity Temperature Depth (CTD) instrument in October, 2015 at 36 stations with depth varying until 1000 m. The aim of this study was to determine and identify water mass characteristic at the ITF west exit passage and compare the identified water mass characteristic to the South Java Seaâs water mass to see its resemblances or dissimilarities. The result of this study shows that there were six of Pacific Oceanâs water mass found within the ITF exit passage and five of those were found within the South Java Sea. Pacific Equatorial Water mass with temperature from 6â16 o C and salinity 34.5 â 35.2 PSU from North Pacific, Eastern South Pacific Water with temperature varying from 9 â 16 o C and salinity 34.3 â 35.1 PSU, Western South Pacific Water with temperature ranging from 7 â 16 o C and salinity from 34.5 â 35.5 PSU from South Pacific Ocean were found dominant within ITF exit passage and also found dominantly within South Java Sea.