Tropical
Highlights – June 2012
ENSO-neutral conditions continued during June
2012, as reflected by near-average sea surface
temperature (SST) across the central and
east-central equatorial Pacific. However, SSTs in the eastern equatorial
Pacific remained warmer-than-average during the month (Fig. T18, Table T2). The latest monthly Niño indices were +0.3°C for
the Niño 3.4 region and +1.6°C for the Niño 1+2 region (Table
T2, Fig. T5). Consistent with these conditions, the depth
of the oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20°C
isotherm) remained near-average in the east-central equatorial Pacific and
above-average in the far eastern equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16).
Also during
June, the equatorial low-level easterly trade winds remained slightly
above-average over the west-central equatorial Pacific and below-average across
the east-central equatorial Pacific (Table
T1, Fig. T20). Enhanced convection was seen across Papua New
Guinea and western equatorial Pacific (Figs.
T25, E3).
Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric anomalies reflect ENSO-neutral 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