Tropical Highlights
OCTOBER 2008
Forecast Forum
ENSO-neutral
conditions continued during October 2008, as sea surface temperatures (SSTs)
remained near-average over much of the equatorial
Pacific Ocean
. However, SSTs remained below
average in the east-central Pacific and off the west coast of
South America
(Fig.
T18). The
latest monthly SST index was -0.3°C in the Niņo-3.4 region, and -0.1°C in the
Niņo-4 region (Table T2).
The oceanic
thermocline along the equator, measured by the depth of the 20°C
isotherm, featured shallower-than-average depths in the east-central Pacific
during October (Figs. T15, T16).
Consistent with this pattern, subsurface temperatures in the region were 1-3oC
below average at thermocline depth (Fig. T17).
Enhanced
low-level easterly winds and upper-level westerly winds were again present
across the western equatorial Pacific (Figs.
T20, T21).
These conditions continued to be associated with suppressed convection over the
central equatorial Pacific (Fig.
T25).
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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