Tropical
Highlights – December 2013
During December 2013, the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) remained near-average across the central and eastern equatorial
Pacific (Fig. T18,
Table T2). The latest
monthly
Niño indices were 0.0°C for the Niño 3.4 region
and -0.2°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 December, the low-level easterly trade winds remained near-average across
the central and eastern equatorial Pacific and above-average over the western
equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Fig. T20). Meanwhile,
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