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Pacific Decadal Oscillation Influences Drought
June 15, 2004
Recent sea level height data from the U.S./France Jason altimetric satellite during a 10-day cycle
ending June 15, 2004, shows that Pacific equatorial surface ocean heights and temperatures are near
neutral, but perhaps tending towards a mild La Nina for this summer and into the fall. "In the U.S.
we are still under the influence of the larger than El Nino and La Nina Pacific Decadal Oscillation
shift in Pacific Ocean heat content and temperature patterns. "Much of the nation's western farmland
and forests are really dry as we continue to struggle with a severe 6-year drought. The reality is
that the atmosphere is acting as though La Nina is present. This continuing oceanic pattern in the
Pacific and atmospheric pattern over the western U.S. is also a precursor for an active hurricane
season for the East and Gulf coasts for our coming summer and fall," said JPL oceanographer
Dr. Bill Patzert.
These images show sea surface height anomalies with the seasonal cycle (the effects of summer,
fall, winter, and spring) removed. The differences between what we see and what is normal for
different times and regions are called anomalies, or residuals. When oceanographers and climatologists
view these "anomalies" they can identify unusual patterns and can tell us how heat is being stored in
the ocean to influence future planetary climate events. Each image is a 10-day average of data, ending
on the date indicated.
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