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³He in Indonesian Seas: Inferences on deep pathways
Author(s) -
Top Z.,
Gordon A.,
JeanBaptiste P.,
Fieux M.,
Ilahude G.,
Muchtar M.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/97gl00350
Subject(s) - geology , oceanography , sill , mantle (geology) , indian ocean , deep water , deep sea , geochemistry
Helium isotope measurements from the Indonesian Seas, and from the Java‐Australia Dynamic Experiment cruises define mantle ³He sources and deep water spreading patterns. ³He sources in the Sulawesi Sea and in the Makassar Strait are found, but these are prevented from spreading into the Banda Sea and the Indian Ocean by blocking sills. A major mantle source is identified below 2000m in the Flores Sea. The ³He distribution suggests that the Banda Sea water migrates westward along the floor of the Flores Sea, upwells and then advects the high ³He Flores signal. A tongue of higher‐than‐ambient ³He on the Indian Ocean side of the Flores chain indicates a deep outflow of the Flores and the Banda Sea water into the Indian Ocean near 1300m.