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

AUGUST 2008

ENSO-neutral conditions continued during August 2008, as sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean remained near-average (Fig. T18).  The latest monthly SST index was +0.2°C in the Niño-3.4 region, and -0.3°C in the Niño-4 region (Table T2). The positive sub-surface temperature anomalies at thermocline depth have weakened across the equatorial Pacific during August (Fig. T17).

However, the atmospheric circulation continued to reflect some aspects of La Niña, with enhanced low-level easterly winds and upper-level westerly winds over the western and central tropical Pacific (Figs. T20, T21, Table T1). Also, convection remained suppressed throughout the central equatorial Pacific and enhanced over the western equatorial Pacific (Figs. T25, 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