28 February 2007
ENSO and Sea Surface Temperatures
Neutral ENSO state in the tropical Pacific Ocean Weaker tradewinds in western equatorial Pacific
The Equatorial Pacific atmosphere and ocean remains in a neutral state. The equatorial sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies are generally positive across the Pacific. The NINO3 SST anomaly weakened slightly to +0.3°C in August (from +0.4°C in July), and NINO4 is about +0.7°C. The three month (June – August) means were +0.1°C and +0.6°C for NINO3 and NINO4, respectively. The trade winds are weaker than average over the western Pacific but near average in the east. The equatorial thermocline remains depressed in the east but subsurface ocean temperature anomalies are relatively small.
Most global climate models predict a neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) state through to February 2004.
Sea surface temperature anomalies (°C) for August 2003
Mean sea surface temperatures (°C) for August 2003
