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This figure compares the current unusually high amount of water vapor in the upper atmosphere with the amount of water vapor that is normally present at heights of approximately 12 kilometers (about 8 miles) over the central-eastern tropical Pacific. The water vapor measurements were taken by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument onboard NASA’s Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS), which began observations in September 1991. These data are providing scientists with more convincing information that a full-blown El Nino condition is established in the Pacific Ocean. El Nino is characterized by high amounts of water vapor, shown in this figure in red and yellow, located east of the international date line (180 degrees longitude). The figure clearly shows El Nino events near the end of 1991 into 1992; in 1993 and now developing in 1997. Data from 1995 show a slightly higher than normal water vapor level, indicating a possible weak, but unconfirmed, El Nino that year. White bands are areas of insufficient data. #####
Description
This figure compares the current unusually high amount of water vapor in the upper atmosphere with the amount of water vapor that is normally present at heights of approximately 12 kilometers (about 8 miles) over the central-eastern tropical Pacific. The water vapor measurements were taken by the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) instrument onboard NASA’s Upper Atmospheric Research Satellite (UARS), which began observations in September 1991. These data are providing scientists with more convincing information that a full-blown El Nino condition is established in the Pacific Ocean. El Nino is characterized by high amounts of water vapor, shown in this figure in red and yellow, located east of the international date line (180 degrees longitude). The figure clearly shows El Nino events near the end of 1991 into 1992; in 1993 and now developing in 1997. Data from 1995 show a slightly higher than normal water vapor level, indicating a possible weak, but unconfirmed, El Nino that year. White bands are areas of insufficient data. #####
Description
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