Tropical Highlights

  Table of Atmospheric Indices  (Table 1)

  Table of Oceanic Indices  (Table 2)

  Time Series

  Time-Longitude Sections

  Mean & Anomaly Fields

  Appendix 1: Outside Contributions

Tropical Highlights

JUNE 2008

A transition from La Ni�a to ENSO-neutral conditions occurred during June 2008, as sea surface temperatures (SSTs) returned to near-average across the east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean (Fig. T18).  Also, positive SST anomalies continued in the eastern equatorial Pacific. Consistent with this pattern, the latest monthly SST index was -0.3�C in the Ni�o-3.4 region, and +0.6�C in the Ni�o 1+2 region (Table T2). Across the equatorial Pacific, a deeper than average thermocline (Fig. T16) and above average temperatures (+1�C to +4�C) at thermocline depth also reflected the transition to ENSO neutral conditions (Fig. T17).

However, enhanced low-level easterly winds and upper-level westerly winds continued across the central equatorial Pacific during June (Figs. T20, T21, Table T1). Convection remained suppressed throughout the central equatorial Pacific and enhanced over the far western Pacific (Figs. T25, E3). Collectively, these atmospheric conditions continued to indicate a lingering La Ni�a signal.

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