Tropical
Highlights – January 2014
During January 2014, the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) remained near-average across the central and eastern equatorial
Pacific (Fig. T18,
Table T2). The latest
monthly
Niño indices were -0.5°C for the Niño 3.4 region
and +0.3°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 across the central and east-central equatorial
Pacific (Figs. T15, T16).
Also
during January, the low-level easterly trade winds remained near-average across
the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Fig. T20).
Meanwhile, tropical convection remained enhanced over western Pacific and
suppressed over the central equatorial Pacific (Figs. T25, E3). Collectively, these oceanic and
atmospheric anomalies reflect a continuation of 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