Tropical Highlights
JUNE 2010
Forecast Forum
Sea
surface temperature (SST) anomalies continued to decrease across the equatorial
Pacific Ocean during June 2010 (Fig.
T18).
The latest monthly SST indices were -0.4�C and -0.2�C for the Ni�o-3.4
and the Ni�o-1+2 regions, respectively (Table
T2, Fig. T5).
Consistent with this evolution, the
oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20�C
isotherm) was shallower than average across the central and eastern equatorial
Pacific (Figs. T15 and
T16), with sub-surface temperatures
reaching 1�C to 4�C
below average in the region (Fig.
T17). The
latest Oceanic Ni�o Index (ONI)
from the NOAA/CPC is 0.3 for AMJ 2010, which officially indicates the end of the
El Ni�o event. (http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/ensostuff/ensoyears.shtml)
Also
during June, equatorial low-level easterly winds remained stronger than average
over the western and central Pacific (Table
T1, Fig. T20).
This wind pattern was associated with enhanced convection over Indonesia and
suppressed convection across the western and central equatorial Pacific (Figs. T25 and E3).
Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric anomalies reflect developing La Ni�a
conditions.
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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