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 | Class | Rank | Million Metric Tons | Regina | Houston | Philadelphia | Oklahoma City | San Antonio | Boulder | Wichita | Portland | Irvine | Minneapolis | Boise | Winnipeg | Spring Hill | Greeley | St. Louis | Detroit | West Palm Beach | Columbus | Augusta | McAllen | Topeka | Las Cruces | Bakersfield | Oceanside | Reno | Indianapolis | Stockton | Baton Rouge | Glendale | Salinas | Trenton | Aurora | Modesto | Nogales | Rock Island | Fresno | Covington | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.311% | 1.20% | 0.159% | 0.444% | 2.10% | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||