The study has hightlighted the importance of the Halmahera and Mindanao Eddies in blocking the effects of variability in the Paciflc wind stress and in yielding a throughflow predominantly fed by the Mindanao Current. More information on these features, e.g. variability in their location and strength would be useful.
New data from the ARLlNDO current meters, Gordon (pers. comm. 1998), show that the net transport in Makassar Strait was about 10 Sv averaged over the winter months of the 1997/98 La Nino. This is much larger than expected, and how much is associated with a recirculation around Sulawesi is unknown. If all of it does contribute to the throughflow, then our estimates of the mean throughflow and its likely importance in the Indian Ocean heat budget need to be revised upwards.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author would like to thank Dr. M. Endoh of JAMSTEC and Prof. T. Yamagata of Tokyo University and the Frontier Progam for inviting her to the Triangle '98 symposium, and providing financial support. This research was funded by the U.S. Office of Naval Research and National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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