NOAA ANNOUNCES THE RETURN OF EL NIÑO
Sept. 10, 2004 — NOAA declared today that El Niño is back but this time around in a weaker state. "El Niño conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific and are expected to last through early 2005," said Jim Laver, director of the NOAA Climate Prediction Center. "At this time it is not clear what, if any, impacts this event will have on ocean temperatures in the classical El Niño region along the west coast of South America and on temperature and precipitation in the United States." (Click the NOAA satellite image for larger view of El Niño taken Sept. 7, 2004. The warm sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific Ocean are represented in red. Click here for high resolution version, which is a large file. Please credit “NOAA.”)
depend on a variety of factors, such as the intensity and extent of
the warming in the tropical Pacific. NOAA will continue to monitor the
situation in the tropical Pacific and will provide more detailed information
on possible impacts due to this event in coming months.
NOAA declares the onset of El Niño conditions when the three-month average sea-surface temperature departure exceeds 0.5 degrees C in the east-central equatorial Pacific [between 5 degrees -5 degrees S and 170 degrees W-120 degrees W]. To be classified as a full-fledged El Niño episode, these conditions must be satisfied for a period of at least five consecutive three-month seasons.
El Niño is associated with changes in sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean and can have significant impacts on weather around the world. El Niño episodes occur about every four to five years and can last up to 12 to 18 months.
The El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion is a consolidated effort of NOAA and its funded institutions. NOAA will continue monitoring El Niño developments and provide monthly updates through its El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Diagnostic Discussion. The next update will be issued on October 7, 2004, in association with the U.S. Winter Outlook.
NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
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