ENSO >> El Nino >> Composite Event Maps

This page provides access to a number of maps and graphs showing the evolution of the El Nino composite event. The El Nino events included are 1951, 1953, 1957, 1965, 1969, 1972, 1976, 1982, 1987, 1991, and 1997. 1997 is not included in the "old composite." The rationale for these years and the methodology used is discussed in a number of papers. Please see the main ENSO page for references and proper citation credit. Thanks - Sim and Ed.

Sections:

Global Marine Surface Composite Maps

using ICOADS data

maps are smoothed with a 3 month running mean and spatial smoothing in x and y; composites are simple averages; anomalies are based off of a 1950-1995 simple average climatology; statistical significance is with a Normal-z test using the 1950-1995 standard deviation

Variable Statistic Masking Year (-1) Year (0) Year (+1)
SST Anomaly none J A S O N D J A S O N J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S
95% coming soon
Diff New-Old none J A S O N D J A S O N J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S
95% coming soon
SLP Anomaly none coming soon
95% coming soon
Diff New-Old none coming soon
95% coming soon
U wind Anomaly none coming soon
95% coming soon
Diff New-Old none coming soon
95% coming soon
V wind Anomaly none coming soon
95% coming soon
Diff New-Old none coming soon
95% coming soon

Global Seasonal Weather Impacts

using gridded GHCN data

Variable Statistics Year (-1) Year (0) Year (+1)
Temperature & Precipiation Composite and 1997 J A S O N D J A S O N J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S

U.S. Seasonal Weather Associations

using U.S. Climate Division data

maps are smoothed by a 3 month running mean; statistical significance is computed via a Bootstrap calculation; anomalies are based on 1950-1995 climatology

Variable Statistics Year (-1) Year (0) Year (+1)
Temperature Composite: all and 80% mask J A S O N D J A S O N J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S
Precipitation Composite: all and 80% mask J A S O N D J A S O N J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S