The INSTANT Program

Reported at IOP-2, Hobart, 30^th march-2^nd April 2005

The international program INSTANT (International Nusantara STratification ANd Transport (Figures below) is now underway.  The countries involved in the program are: Indonesia [Indroyono Soesilo, Jana T. Anggadiredja, Jan Sopaheluwakan] (BRKP, BPPT and LIPI), United States [Arnold Gordon, Janet Sprintall, Dwi Susanto, Amy Ffield] (LDEO; SIO), Australia [Susan Wijffels] (CSIRO), France [Robert Molcard] (LODYC) and the Netherlands [Hendrik van Aken] (NIOZ). 

The first phase of INSTANT is now completed and the 11 current meters and T/C sensors arrays have been put in place in the main passages of the ITF. It begun in September with the Australian RV Southern Surveyor with the mooring in Ombai strait and the installation of one pressure gauge on the Ashmore Reef. Then with the Indonesia RV Baruna Jaya VIII from LIPI in December/January, 4 moorings in Timor Passage, 1 additional in Ombai on the Alor Island side, 2 in Lombok strait were successfully launched and pressure gauges in Roti Island and in Bali/ Lombok installed. CTD profiles and hull mounted ADCP were conducted during the cruises. It continued in January with the Indonesian RV Baruna Jaya I from BPPT, 2 moorings in the Makassar strait and 1 in the Lifamatola Passage. CTD profiles were also obtained during these cruises. Many Indonesian scientists joined the cruises and actively participated in the measurements. Several had been invited for training courses in the various laboratories of the participating countries. 

The second phase of INSTANT will begin in June 2005. The arrays will be recovered and redeployed for another 18 months period.