ENSO response

Composite (average) atmospheric variables associated with 9 El Nino and 9 La Nina events from 1948 to the present. Events are defined for winter(Nov-Mar) and summer (May-Sep). Anomalies are defined as the difference from the 1968-1996 means (1971-2000 for the climate division data). Options are available for comparing El Nino to La Nina, anomalies to means and winter to summer. Set your browser window as wide as possible to view plots side-by-side.
bulletHow ENSO events differ.
bulletHow composites vary throughout a season.
bulletFurther details and directions for this page.
Output Form:
  Single Plot
  El Nino vs. La Nina
  Anomaly vs Mean
  Summer vs Winter
Variable:
  Surface Air Temperature
  Sea Level Pressure
  Climate Division Temperature
  Climate Division Precipitation
  Surface Zonal Wind
  Surface Meridional Wind
  Precipitation Rate
  200mb Zonal Wind
  500mb Geopotential Height
  700mb Omega
  SST
Region:
  Globe   USA
Event:
  El Nino   La Nina
Season:
  Winter   Summer
Type:
  Anomaly   Mean

Years that define events

WinterSummer
El NinoLa Nina
1982-831954-55
1991-921955-56
1997-981970-71
1957-581973-74
1986-871975-76
1972-731988-89
1965-661998-99
1968-691964-65
2002-031999-00
El NinoLa Nina
19651950
19721955
19821956
19871964
19911971
19931974
19941988
19971999
20021998