Tropical Highlights - November 2014

 

 

During November 2014, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were above-average across the equatorial Pacific (Fig. T18, Table T2). The latest monthly Nino indices were +0.9C for the Nino 3.4 region and +0.7C for the Nino 1+2 region (Table T2, Fig. T5). The depth of the oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20C isotherm) was above-average over the east-central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16), and the corresponding sub-surface temperatures were 1-3C above average in those regions (Fig. T17).

Also during November, the low-level easterly trade winds remained near-average across much of the equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Fig. T20). Meanwhile, suppressed tropical convection was observed over Indonesia and near the Date Line (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