Model salinity (colors; scale at lower left) is plotted on the density surface sigma_theta_24.5 for the region of the Indonesian throughflow. Above sea level bathymetry is shaded and below sea level bathymetry is shaded gray. The 3-D density surface is at the approximate depth of the Pacific tropical water where sub-surface salinity is a maximum. South Pacific Tropical Water (SPTW) is characterized by a relatively higher salinity maximum than North Pacific Tropical Water (NPTW). Observations suggest that the bulk of the throughflow is composed of North Pacific water. In these model results, however, significant amounts of South Pacific Water (higher salinity; red shading) make it through, perhaps indicative of model limitations. The animation runs for 1996 through 1999 at three day intervals. Click on the image to animate.