Media Information

 
 
 
Collection:
NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Title:
TOPEX/El Niño Watch - La Niña Still a "cool" Problem Child, March 23, 2000
Original Caption Released with Image:
These TOPEX/Poseidon data, collected over the latest 10-day sampling cycle, March 1 to 11, 2000, show the La Niña condition still exists. The image of sea surface heights reflects unusual patterns of heat storage in the ocean. Sea-surface height is shown relative to normal height (green). The cooler water (blue and purple) measures between 8 and 24 centimeters (3 and 9 inches) lower than normal. The giant horseshoe of warmer water (red and white) continues to dominate the western Pacific with higher than normal sea-surface heights between 8 and 24 centimeters (3 and 9 inches).

This view of the oceans from TOPEX/Poseidon is an input to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) seasonal forecasts. The impacts of current ocean conditions in the Pacific for spring in the U.S., according to Dr. Ants Leetmaa, director of NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, imply drier than normal conditions for much of the southern half of the U.S. Leetmaa says the conditions also indicate above-normal rainfall in the Pacific northwest, and a warmer than normal U.S., except for the west coast where spring conditions will be near normal.

Scientists continue to debate whether this image hints at the presence of a large, longer lasting climate pattern, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. This long-term pattern that covers most of the Pacific Ocean has significant implications for global climate, especially over North America.

The U.S.-French TOPEX/Poseidon mission is managed JPL for the NASA's Earth Science Enterprise, Washington, D.C. JPL is a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.
Addition Date:
2000-05-07
Produced By:
JPL
Mission:
TOPEX/Poseidon (Jason-1)
Spacecraft:
TOPEX/Poseidon
Target Name:
Earth
Is a satellite of:
Sol (our sun)
Instrument:
Altimeter
Product Size:
900 samples x 900 lines
Primary Data Set:
TOPEX/Poseidon Science and Data
Producer ID:
P50781
facet_what:
Sun
facet_what:
Earth
facet_what:
TOPEX
facet_what:
Jason-1
facet_what:
Poseidon
facet_what:
TOPEX/Poseidon
facet_what:
Altimeter
facet_where:
Pacific Ocean
facet_where:
California
facet_where:
Washington
facet_where:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where:
Washington, D.C.
facet_when:
March 23, 2000
facet_when_year:
2000
Image #:
PIA02460
UID:
SPD-PHOTJ-PIA02460
orignial url:

TOPEX/El Niño Watch - La Niña Still a "cool" Problem Child, March 23, 2000