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HOME > Expert Assessments > Climate Diagnostics Bulletin > Tropical Highlights
 

Tropical Highlights - March 2007

 

The pattern of tropical sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies during March 2007 featured near-average temperatures across the western and central equatorial Pacific and colder-than-average temperatures over the eastern tropical Pacific (Fig. T18). Accordingly, the SST anomalies were negative in the Niņo 1+2 and Niņo 3 regions (latest values of -0.7 and -0.3, respectively) and zero in the Niņo 3.4 region during the month (Table T2). Meanwhile, the Tahiti – Darwin SOI was slightly negative (latest value: -0.4), which is consistent with ENSO-neutral conditions (Table T1, Fig. T1).

The equatorial oceanic thermocline, measured by the depth of the 20ēC isotherm, featured below average depths over the eastern Pacific and near average depths across the western and central Pacific (Figs. T15, T16).  Consistent with these conditions, temperatures at thermocline depth were 3-5ēC below average over the eastern equatorial Pacific and near average across the western and central equatorial Pacific (Fig. T17).

During March 2007, low-level easterly anomalies (more than 3.0 m s-1) were observed over the central equatorial Pacific and low-level westerly anomalies (more than 3.0 m s-1) were present across the eastern tropical Indian ocean (Fig. T20). This circulation was associated with enhanced convection (above-average rainfall amounts) across northwestern Australia , Indonesia and western equatorial Pacific, and suppressed convection (below-average rainfall amounts) across the central equatorial Pacific (Figs. T25 and E3).

For the latest status of the ENSO cycle see the ENSO Diagnostic Discussion at: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/index.html

 


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