Tropical
Highlights – July 2013
During July 2013, the sea surface temperatures
(SSTs) remained near-average across the central and east-central equatorial
Pacific, and below average in the eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T18, Table T2). The latest monthly Niño indices were -0.3°C
for the Niño 3.4 region and -1.3°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 July, the equatorial low-level easterly trade winds remained
near-average across the equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Fig. T20),
and tropical convection remained enhanced over Indonesia 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