Tropical Highlights - July 2021

 

 

During July 2021, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were near-average across much of the equatorial Pacific (Fig. T18) and above-average in the far eastern equatorial Pacific. The latest monthly Niño indices were +0.5°C for the Niño 1+2 region, -0.3°C for the Niño 3.4 region and -0.2°C for the Niño 4 region (Fig. T5, Table T2). The depth of the oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20°C isotherm) was below-average across much of the equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16). The corresponding sub-surface temperatures were 1-3°C below-average (Fig. T17) in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific.

 

Also during July, the lower-level easterly winds were above-average over much of the equatorial Pacific and the upper-level westerly winds were above-average across the eastern equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Fig. T20, Fig. T21). Meanwhile, tropical convection was suppressed over the western equatorial Pacific and enhanced over portions of Indonesia (Figs. T25, E3). Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric anomalies reflected 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