Revisiting the Seasonal Cycle of the Timor Throughflow: Impacts of Winds, Waves and Eddies

The tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans are connected via a complex system of currents known as the Indonesian Throughflow (ITF). More than 30% variability in ITF is linked to seasonal cycle, influenced by Monsoon winds. Despite previous efforts, detailed knowledge response components forcing still lacking. Here, we describe cycle based on new observations velocity properties Timor Passage, satellite altimetry high-resolution regional model. These reveal mean seasonally varying flow field. amplitude volume transport approximately 6 Sv. timing with semi-annual maxima (minima) May December (February September), controlled below 600 m associated Kelvin waves. thermocline waters (<300 m) less variable deep but larger magnitude. This top layer modulated remotely cycles divergence Banda Sea, locally through Ekman transport, coastal upwelling, non-linearities flow. latter manifests formation eddies that reduce throughflow during Southeast Monsoon, when expected be maximum. While reduction small, its impact heat large. non-linear dynamics develop over small scales (<10 km), without high enough resolution, both models will fail capture them adequately.