Feature article
ENSO Update
The current atmospheric and oceanic observations show a near neutral El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) state in the tropical Pacific region.
In March 2003, the equatorial Pacific (NINO3 and NINO4) seas surface temperature (SST) started cooling, which also coincided with the weakening of easterly trade winds, four months prior to change in the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI).
During May 2003, there was rapid cooling in the equatorial SSTs, which suggested development of of a cool La Niña event.