Spatial and temporal variability of chlorophyll-<i>a</i> concentration in Makassar Strait using Empirical Orthogonal Function analysis of satellite images

Abstract

Nine years of monthly data of MODIS derived chl-<i>a</i> around Makassar Strait of Indonesia were used to investigate the spatial and temporal variability of chl-<i>a</i> concentration. The variability was further analyzed by empirical orthogonal function (EOF). The first mode (62.08% of variance) showed variability of seasonal pattern. The second mode (5.75% of variance) showed variability during the Northwest monsoon and the Southeast monsoon. Meanwhile, the third mode (2.72% of variance) and the fourth mode (2.25% of variance) showed variability during the Transition monsoon I and II, respectively.The variability of chl-<i>a</i> along the Borneo Island is influenced by river runoff during the Northwest monsoon, while the variability of chl-<i>a</i> along the Sulawesi Island is induced by strong wind and current during the Southeast monsoon.