Tropical
Highlights - July 2016
Sea surface
temperatures (SSTs) were near-average
across the central and eastern equatorial Pacific during July 2016 (Fig. T18, Table T2). The latest monthly Niņo indices were -0.5°C for
the Niņo 3 region, -0.5°C for the Niņo 3.4 region, and +0.2°C for the Niņo 1+2 region (Table
T2, Fig. T5). The depth of the oceanic thermocline
(measured by the depth of the 20°C isotherm) remained below-average across the
central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15,
T16), and
the corresponding sub-surface temperatures were 1-2°C below average (Fig. T17).
Also during July, the upper and
lower-level winds were both near-average across the central and eastern equatorial
Pacific (Table T1,
Figs. T20, T21).
Meanwhile, suppressed convection was observed across the central equatorial
Pacific (Figs. T25,
E3). Collectively, these oceanic
and atmospheric anomalies reflect 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