Recent sea level height data from the U.S./France Jason altimetric
satellite during a 10-day cycle ending June 27, 2004, shows that Pacific
equatorial surface ocean heights and temperatures are near neutral, but
perhaps tending towards a mild La Niña for this summer and into the fall.
"In the U.S. we are still under the influence of the larger than El Niño
and La Niña 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 Niña
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.