ENSO and Sea Surface Temperatures
In the tropical Southwest Pacific, a band of much warmer than usual water at the surface (at least 1.0°C above average) extends from the Solomon Islands southeast to affect Vanuatu, Fiji, Tonga, Niue, and the region south of the Southern Cook Islands. Surface waters at least 1.0°C above average also encompass the region from central French Polynesia to the east of Pitcairn Island, as well as Western Kiribati. The warmest surface waters (30-31°C) extend from the Solomon Islands across to Tokelau.
Equatorial Pacific Ocean temperatures continue warmer than average (US analysis, +1.0°C) around the date line, and exceed +2°C in a small region near the South American coast. NINO3 and NINO4 SST anomalies showed little change from March. Overall surface warming is still occurring, although it has been slow. Bands of previously cooler than normal water within 10° of the equator near 120°W have now all but disappeared. The positive subsurface temperature anomalies the occurred in the upper 100m extending from 160 °E to South America in March how now gone.
It is still possible that an El Niño event will influence the Southwest Pacific climate later this year but at this stage its progress has been slow, with little change in conditions in the tropical Pacific since March. Present indications show that if an El Niño event does occur it may be weak .
more details in this months feature article.
Sea surface temperature anomalies (°C) for April 2002
Mean sea surface temperatures (°C) for April 2002
