Tropical Highlights - March 2022

 

 

During March 2022, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) remained below-average across the east-central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T18). The latest monthly Niño indices based on OISSTV2.1 were -0.7C for the Niño 1+2 region, -0.9C for the Niño 3.4 region and -0.7C for the Niño 4 region (Fig. T5, Table T2). The depth of the oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20C isotherm) was below-average across the east-central and much of the eastern equatorial Pacific and above-average in the far eastern equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16). The corresponding sub-surface temperatures were 1-4C below-average across the east-central and eastern equatorial Pacific and 1-3C above-average in the far eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T17).

 

Also during March, the lower-level easterly winds were above-average over much of the equatorial Pacific and the upper-level westerly winds were above-average across the east-central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Fig. T20, Fig. T21). Meanwhile, tropical convection was suppressed over the central equatorial Pacific and enhanced over the western equatorial Pacific (Fig. T25). Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric anomalies were consistent with La Niña 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