Tropical Highlights – September 2013

 

 

 During September 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 -0.1°C for the Niño 3.4 region and -0.6°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 September, the equatorial low-level easterly trade winds remained near-average across the equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Fig. T20), and tropical convection remained slightly 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