Tropical Highlights - January 2022

 

 

During January 2022, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were below-average across the east-central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Fig. T18). The latest monthly Ni�o indices were -1.2�C for the Ni�o 1+2 region, -0.9�C for the Ni�o 3.4 region and -0.4�C for the Ni�o 4 region (Fig. T5, Table T2). The depth of the oceanic thermocline (measured by the depth of the 20�C isotherm) was below-average across the eastern equatorial Pacific (Figs. T15, T16). The corresponding sub-surface temperatures were 1-4�C below-average (Fig. T17).

 

Also during January, the lower-level easterly winds were near average over much of the equatorial Pacific and the upper-level westerly winds were above-average across the east-central and eastern equatorial Pacific (Table T1, Fig. T20, Fig. T21). Meanwhile, tropical convection was suppressed over the central equatorial Pacific and near average over Indonesia (Figs. T25, E3). Collectively, these oceanic and atmospheric anomalies were consistent with La Ni�a 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