The following images and animations are an addendum to the earlier visualizations. The main difference here is that UVW vectors have been added to represent the ocean flow from both a vertical and horizontal perspective. Also, new data has been added so that the full '97-'98 El Nino event is visible.

The domain sizes for both sets of visualizations are the same. Although, in this most recent set of images, the vertical dimension has been stretched to reveal more detail in the data.

1996-1998 Description ENSO Features

Movie
Temperature anomalies and
UVW flow vectors.
Vertical Slice at the
equator. 0-232 meters
below sea level. Just prior to the peak of the El Nino event, normal upwelling in the East is replaced by strong currents flowing from the west in Oct. and Nov. '97.
The El Nino is quickly followed by the '98-'99 La Nina event as colder waters rise from deeper levels in the Pacific.

Movie
Temperature and UVW
flow vectors.
Vertical Slice at the equator
0-232 meters below sea
level. This animation shows the evolution of an El Nino event
beginning with normal conditions. In Dec. '96, before the onset of the El Nino, pooling of very warm water and the depression of the thermocline occurs in the W. Pacific.
By early '98 there is an extensive cap of warm water in the E. Pacific as the El Nino event nears its peak.

Movie
Temperature Anomalies and
UVW flow vectors.
Horizontal slice at
+/- 30 degrees Latitude. In the months preceding the El Nino event, vector overlays on the map show the current changing direction along the equator from west to east.

Movie
Temperature and UVW
flow vectors.
Horizontal slice at
+/- 30 degrees latitude.

Page maintained by Tim Scheitlin, NCAR Scientific Computing Division

1996-1998	Description	ENSO Features
Movie	Temperature anomalies and UVW flow vectors. Vertical Slice at the equator. 0-232 meters below sea level.	Just prior to the peak of the El Nino event, normal upwelling in the East is replaced by strong currents flowing from the west in Oct. and Nov. '97. The El Nino is quickly followed by the '98-'99 La Nina event as colder waters rise from deeper levels in the Pacific.
Movie	Temperature and UVW flow vectors. Vertical Slice at the equator 0-232 meters below sea level.	This animation shows the evolution of an El Nino event beginning with normal conditions. In Dec. '96, before the onset of the El Nino, pooling of very warm water and the depression of the thermocline occurs in the W. Pacific. By early '98 there is an extensive cap of warm water in the E. Pacific as the El Nino event nears its peak.
Movie	Temperature Anomalies and UVW flow vectors. Horizontal slice at +/- 30 degrees Latitude.	In the months preceding the El Nino event, vector overlays on the map show the current changing direction along the equator from west to east.
Movie	Temperature and UVW flow vectors. Horizontal slice at +/- 30 degrees latitude.