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% of the variability in the ITF is linked to the seasonal cycle, influenced by the Monsoon winds. Despite previous efforts, a detailed knowledge of the ITF response to the components of the seasonal forcing is still lacking. Here, we describe the seasonal cycle of the ITF based on new observations of velocity and properties in Timor Passage, satellite altimetry and a high‐resolution regional model. These new observations reveal a complex mean and seasonally varying flow field. The amplitude of the seasonal cycle in volume transport is approximately 6 Sv. The timing of the seasonal cycle, with semi‐annual maxima (minima) in May and December (February and September), is controlled by the flow below 600 m associated with semi‐annual Kelvin waves. The transport of thermocline waters (