Indonesia, American experts conclude marine expedition<\/p>\n
Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali<\/p>\n
The Baruna Jaya VIII research vessel is back at anchor in Benoa
\nharbor in Bali province after completing a one-month expedition
\nin waters across the archipelago.<\/p>\n
The Collaborative Oceanographic Research Expedition to the
\nIndonesia Throughflow (CORE IT) started on July 2 and finished on
\nWednesday. It was participated in by both Indonesian and American
\nexperts.<\/p>\n
Data and information gathered during the Palaeo-Oceanography
\nexpedition were considered crucial to understanding the periodic
\ncycle of ENSO (El Nino\/La Nina Southern Oscillation) phenomenon,
\nwhich has caused significant changes to the global climate.<\/p>\n
A total of 14 U.S. marine scientists and 13 Indonesian
\nexperts, including the director of the Natural Resources
\nInventory at the Agency for the Assessment and Application of
\nTechnology (BPPT), Yusuf S. Djajadihardja, were involved<\/p>\n
The U.S. scientists come from Rutgers University, the Woods
\nHole Oceanographic Institution and the State University of New
\nYork, while the Indonesian experts consisted of researchers from
\nthe BPPT, the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), the
\nBandung Institute of Technology (ITB), and the Fisheries and
\nMarine Research Agency (BRKP).<\/p>\n
"The expedition was aimed at ascertaining the water mass that
\nis transported from the Pacific Ocean into the Indian Ocean via
\nthe Indonesian archipelago's inner bodies of water (Arlindo),"
\nYusuf said.<\/p>\n
This figure will then be compared with a reconstruction of
\nwhat it was thought happened during the Holocene period some
\n10,000 years ago. The results of the comparison will reveal
\nchanges in the transported water mass in the region.<\/p>\n
During the study, the researchers gathered scientific data
\nfrom various spots across the archipelago, including the Bali
\nBasin, Mandar Gulf, Mahakam Delta, Sulawesi Basin, Halmahera Sea,
\nKau Gulf, Banda Sea, Saleh Gulf and the Selayar Sea.<\/p>\n
"This includes the data compiled by using the vertical
\ntransect method up to a depth of 200 meters along the Arlindo's
\nroute in the Makassar Straits and Sulawesi Sea," said another
\nmember of the expedition, Fadly Syamsudin.<\/p>\n
He said the data was the key to understanding the ENSO
\nphenomenon as the Arlindo occurred along the Equator, where the
\nheat convection rate ranged from 28 degrees to 29 degrees
\nCelcius.<\/p>\n
"If the water mass transported in the Arlindo decreases, there
\nis a probability that we will have the La Nina phenomenon. If it
\nincreases, El Nino may take place," Fadly said.<\/p>\n
The data would also provide the experts with significant
\ninformation on fish migrations in the region.<\/p>",
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