Sea-Surface Temperature Anomalies: El Niño
OceansPhysical EnvironmentA composite of sea-surface temperature anomalies during El Niño from November to March during the following years: 1958, 1966, 1973, 1983, 1987, 1992, 1996, and 1998. When sea-surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific rise well above normal, it is known as an El Niño event.
NOAASea-surface temperature anomalies during El Niño. The most intense warming (2 to 2.25 degrees Celsius, dark brown) occurs off the coast of South America. Cooler areas (negative 2.25 to negative 2 degrees Celsius, dark blue) are in the Arctic Ocean.
-0.25 to 0.25 | 0.75 to 1.0 | 1.0 to 1.25 | 1.25 to 1.5 | 1.5 to 1.75 | 0 to 2°C | 3 to 5°C | 6 to 8°C | 9 to 11°C | 12 to 14°C | 15 to 17°C | 18 to 20°C | 21 to 23°C | 24 to 26°C | 27 to 29°C | over 30°C | Class | Rank | People per square kilometer | Value | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0.311% | 1.20% | 0.159% | 0.444% | 2.10% | 14.8% | 25.4% | 10.6% | 12.2% | 37.9% | 33.5% | 14.5% | 25.6% | 56.1% | 14.6% | 16.4% | |||||
0.16.0