Images related to El Niño Strengthens in November 2009

La Niña In Progress
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La Niña In Progress

La Niña is an occurrence of unusually cold water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean along the equator (the precise area affected is outlined in black in the image above). La Niña and its opposite, El Niño, are linked to seesaw variations in air pressure over the tropical Pacific and affect weather patterns across the globe. NASA monitors developing El Ni&ntidle;o and La Niña events by observing sea surface temperatures. This image compares the water temperatures observed in late January 2006 to long-term average conditions for that time of year. The recent data were collected by the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for EOS (AMSR-E). Red shows where sea surface temperatures are warmer than normal and blue where they are colder than normal.

Published Feb 9, 2006

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Life Water

El Niño Should Be Near Its Peak
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El Niño Should Be Near Its Peak

Past events suggest the phenomenon winds down after December and January. But will this year follow the pattern?

Published Jan 22, 2016

Image of the Day Heat Water

Muted La Niña Follows Potent El Niño
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Muted La Niña Follows Potent El Niño

The near-record water temperatures of 2015-16 has been followed by a modest, quiet appearance of La Niña.

Published Jan 6, 2017

Image of the Day Water

El Nino Conditions Set in Across Pacific Ocean
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El Nino Conditions Set in Across Pacific Ocean

A patch of warmer than average ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific on July 26, 2009, revealed the onset of El Niño conditions.

Published Jul 28, 2009

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Water

Weak El Niño, but Hints of Pacific Change
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Weak El Niño, but Hints of Pacific Change

Ocean conditions are not likely to help drought-stressed regions this spring. However, some broader changes might be coming in the Pacific.

Published Mar 25, 2015

Image of the Day Heat Water

La Niña comes to a close
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La Niña comes to a close

After appearing for two consecutive winters, La Niña appears to be taking some time off.

Published May 4, 2012

Image of the Day Heat Water

Kelvin Wave Renews El Niño
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Kelvin Wave Renews El Niño

A trio of globes of sea surface height anomalies shows a deep pulse of warm water—a Kelvin wave—crossing the Pacific Ocean in February 2010. Kelvin waves strengthen and maintain El Niño episodes.

Published Mar 21, 2010

Image of the Day Heat Water

La Nina in progress
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La Nina in progress

Acquired September 6, 2010, this map shows cooling in the central Pacific Ocean consistent with La Niña conditions.

Published Sep 19, 2010

Image of the Day Heat Water

Under the Surface of El Niño
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Under the Surface of El Niño

With its own forms of underwater weather, the ocean has fronts and circulation patterns that move heat and nutrients around its basins. Changes near the surface often start with changes in the depths.

Published Mar 21, 2017

Image of the Day Heat Water Remote Sensing

La Niña Makes a Quiet Return
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La Niña Makes a Quiet Return

Cooler than normal conditions prevail in the central and eastern Pacific, but the event is so far considered weak.

Published Dec 22, 2017

Image of the Day Water Remote Sensing

El Niño Conditions Are Growing Stronger
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El Niño Conditions Are Growing Stronger

Weakening trade winds are allowing warm water to move east across the Pacific in a telltale pattern.

Published Aug 5, 2015

Image of the Day Heat Water

El Niño Strengthening
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El Niño Strengthening

With each passing month, 2015 looks more and more like 1997.

Published Oct 13, 2015

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Is El Niño Developing?
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Is El Niño Developing?

Conditions in May 2014 look similar to those in May 1997, a year that brought one of the most potent El Niño events of the 20th century.

Published May 14, 2014

Image of the Day Water

Warm Water and Strange Weather May Be Connected
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Warm Water and Strange Weather May Be Connected

Temperature anomalies in the eastern Pacific Ocean are both influencing and being influenced by unusual weather patterns. The effects are rippling through the marine environment.

Published Apr 18, 2015

Image of the Day Heat Water