These data, taken during a 10-day collection cycle ending March 9, 2001,
show that above-normal sea-surface heights and warmer ocean temperatures
(indicated by the red and white areas) still blanket the far-western
tropical Pacific and much of the north (and south) mid-Pacific. Red areas are about 10
centimeters (4 inches) above normal; white areas show the sea-surface
height is between 14 and 32 centimeters (6 to 13 inches) above normal.
This build-up of heat dominating the Western Pacific was first noted by
TOPEX/Poseidon oceanographers more than two years ago and has outlasted
the El Niño and La Niña events of the past few years. See:
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/elnino/990127.html . This warmth contrasts with
the Bering Sea, Gulf of Alaska, and tropical Pacific where
lower-than-normal sea levels and cool ocean temperatures continue
(indicated by blue areas). The blue areas are between 5 and 13 centimeters (2 and 5 inches) below
normal, whereas the purple areas range from 14 to18 centimeters (6 to 7
inches) below normal. Actually, the near-equatorial ocean cooled through
the fall of 2000 into mid-winter and continues almost La Niña-like.
Looking at the entire Pacific basin, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation's
warm horseshoe and cool wedge pattern still dominates this sea-level
height image. Most recent National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) sea-surface temperature data also clearly illustrate the persistence of
this basin-wide pattern. They are available at
http://psbsgi1.nesdis.noaa.gov:8080/PSB/EPS/SST/climo.html
Image courtesy CNES, NASA, and JPL TOPEX/Poseidon project