December 12, 2002 NASA DATA INDICATES EL NIÑO WILL INTENSIFY AND MOVE EAST Satellite data shows that warmer than normal waters are in the central Pacific Ocean unlike the last El Niño. During 1997-1998 El Niño, waters warmer than average were right up against the South American coast. Historically, El Niño effects on United States weather are greatest when the warm waters are nearing the coast of South America. NASA’s seasonal to Interannual Prediction Project climate model(NSIPP) predicts that the El Niño will get a bit stronger and extend to the east. The January 15, 2002 NSIPP prediction shows a slight intensification of the warmer than normal Pacific waters in January. In the past, El Niño impact on U.S. weather was strongest from mid-January to early spring. High Resolution Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly Imagery November 24, 2002 (10 MB) October 24, 2002 (10 MB) September 24, 2002 (9 MB) August 24, 2002 (9 MB) July 24, 2002 (9 MB) June 24, 2002 (9 MB) ### Contacts: Rani Chohan Rani.D.Chohan@nasa.gov Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771 (Phone: 301/286-2483)

SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE ANOMALIES The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) aboard the Terra satellite provided the data for this sea surface temperature anomaly image. It shows that El Niño?s warmest waters, reflected in yellows and reds, are concentrated in the middle of the equatorial Pacific Ocean throughout the fall. Courtesy: NASA NSIPP BASED Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly forecast This January 15, 2003 NSIPP prediction shows a slight intensification of the warmer than normal Pacific waters in January. Courtesy: NASA

This text derived from http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/2002/1212elnino.html

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