ENSO & SST

ENSO and Sea Surface Temperatures

Neutral conditions continue to prevail in the tropical Pacific
Continuing negative SST anomalies along the South American coast

During June, the tropical Pacific did not continue the trend towards La Niña conditions seen in May. Current ocean and atmospheric indicators are inconsistent with the phase of El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) being still unclear.

The NINO3 SST anomaly was -0.4°C in June. However NINO4 rose to +0.5°C. The three month (April – June) means were -0.4°C and +0.5°C for NINO3 and NINO4, respectively. The thermocline remains slightly elevated close to the South American coast, but is near or below its average position further west.

The area of suppressed convection in the eastern Pacific continued to expand along the equator during June.

Most of the ENSO global climate models indicate neutral conditions throughout the southern hemisphere winter and into early summer.

Sea surface temperature anomalies (°C) for June 2003

Mean sea surface temperatures (°C) for June 2003