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HOME > Expert Assessments > Climate Diagnostics Bulletin > Forecast Forum
 
Forecast Forum - February 2004

The canonical correlation analysis (CCA) forecast of SST in the central Pacific (Barnett et al. 1988, Science, 241, 192-196; Barnston and Ropelewski 1992, J. Climate, 5, 1316-1345), is shown in Figs. F1 and F2. This forecast is produced routinely by the Prediction Branch of the Climate Prediction Center. The predictions from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) coupled ocean/atmosphere model (Ji et al. 1998, Mon. Wea. Rev, 126, 1022-1034) are presented in Figs. F3 and F4a, F4b. Predictions from the Markov model (Xue, Y. et al. 2000: ENSO prediction with Markov model: The impact of sea level. J. Climate, 13, 849-871) are shown in Figs. F5 and F6.   Predictions from the latest version of the LDEO model (Chen, D. et al. 2000, Geophys. Res. Let., 27, 2585-2587) are shown in Figs. F7 and F8. Predictions using linear inverse modeling (Penland and Magorian 1993, J. Climate, 6, 1067-1076) are shown in Figs. F9 and F10. Predictions from the Scripps / Max Planck Institute (MPI) hybrid coupled model (Barnett et al. 1993, J. Climate, 6, 1545-1566) are shown in Fig. F11.   Predictions from the ENSO-CLIPER statistical model (Knaff, J. A. and C. W. Landsea 1997, Wea. Forecasting, 12, 633-652) are shown in Fig. F12.  Niño 3.4 predictions are summarized in F13, which is provided by the Forecasting and Prediction Research Group of the IRI.

The CPC and the contributors to the Forecast Forum caution potential users of this predictive information that they can expect only modest skill.

Outlook

Based on current atmospheric and oceanic conditions and recent observed trends, it is likely that ENSO-neutral conditions will continue in the equatorial Pacific for the next 3-6 months.

Discussion

Sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies (departures from average) decreased in most of the equatorial Pacific during February (Fig. T9, Table T2). Near-average or slightly cooler-than-average SSTs were observed everywhere east of 180°W, with positive anomalies greater than +0.5°C (~1°F) being restricted to the region between Indonesia and 180°W (Fig. T18).Since early December 2003, SST anomalies have decreased in all of the Niño regions (Table T2).

The monthly 850-hPa zonal wind indices, OLR index, 200-hPa zonal wind index, SOI and EQSOI have exhibited considerable intraseasonal variability since November in association with tropical Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) activity (Table T1, Fig. T2). In spite of that variability, certain average atmospheric patterns have become apparent since November. These include: 1) stronger-than-average easterly winds between 160°E and 150°W (Figs. T7, T20), and 2) weaker-than-average convection (drier-than-average conditions) over the central equatorial Pacific (Figs. T11, T25). These conditions are consistent with the observed decrease in SST anomalies in the central equatorial Pacific (Table T2, Fig. T9).

A majority of the statistical and coupled model forecasts indicate near-average conditions in the equatorial Pacific (Niño 3.4 SST anomalies between -0.5°C and +0.5°C) through May 2004 (Figs. F1, F2, F3, F4a, F4b, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9, F10, F11, F12, F13). Thereafter, the forecasts show increasing spread and greater uncertainty. The three-month (December-February) average SST anomaly in the Niño 3.4 region (+0.4°C) is within the ENSO-neutral range. Given the recent trends and observed oceanic and atmospheric conditions discussed above, it is likely that ENSO-neutral conditions will continue in the equatorial Pacific for the next 3-6 months.

Weekly updates of SST, 850-hPa wind, OLR and features of the equatorial subsurface thermal structure are available on the Climate Prediction Center homepage at: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov.

 


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