ABSTRACT

Maria Friska Hutabarat. 2017. (Supervized by: Noir P. Purba, Sri Astuty, dan
Anastasia Rita Tisiana Dwi Kuswardani). Variability of Termocline with Mixed
Layer Depth in Makassar Strait.

Makassar Strait is a strait that lies between two big islands of Sulawesi and Kalimantan.
The existence of the Strait of Makassar is very strategic because it is the connecting of
the Sulawesi Sea in the north with the Java Sea in the south, becoming the path of ocean
currents from the Western Pacific Ocean (north) to the Indian Ocean (south) and is part
of the global currents circulation that brings the resources Nature is abundant in it among
other types of pelagic fish (skipjack and tuna). This study aims to examine the conditions
of temperature, MLD, ENSO variability, and currents affecting the thermocline layer in
the waters of the Makassar Strait. The method used in this research is the analysis of
temporal and spatial and descriptive comparative which then processed using software to
produce output in the form of vertical profile.The average temperature at a depth of 0 -
500 m reaches 25.8 ℃ with a temperature range of 6.64 ℃ - 33.81 ℃. By 2015 the
thermocline layer is formed at a depth of 50 - 400 m with a temperature range of 9 - 28 ℃.
In 2016 the thermocline layer begins to form at a depth of 50 - 300 m with a temperature
range of 9 - 27 ℃. MLD content in the southeastern region of Makassar Strait is higher
labial channel. The strongest current strength occurs during the Western season with an
average speed of 0.06 m / s towards the south and west. Strong El Nino occurs in 2015
and 2016, occurring for 4 months in September - December, and 3 months in January -
March with the strongest El Nino in January with a value of nino index 3.4 (2.33). In
2016 it is La Nina year where La Nina is weak in 5 (five) consecutive months in August -
December.

Keyword : Makassar Strait, Termoklin, Temperature, Current, MLD