Comparing the 1998-1999 La Niña event to the corresponding 2006 Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly Conditions

  • Released Tuesday, May 30, 2006
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Are we seeing another La Niña event in 2006? This animation compares the winter 1998-1999 La Niña event to the corresponding 2006 conditions in the Pacific Ocean. This is done by comparing Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomalies (i.e., differences from normal SST values) between 1999 and 2006. Blue areas indicate ocean regions 5 degrees Celsius (9 degrees Fahrenheit) cooler than the norm. During the 1998-1999 La Niña event this resulted in a distinct area of deep blue stretching across the Pacific Ocean. Through this comparison, one can see that our current ocean temperature conditions do not reflect those same conditions during the 1998-1999 La Niña event.

Example animation comparing Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly conditions during the 1998-1999 La Niña event on February 10, 1999 to SST Anomalies on February 10, 2006.

Color bar showing temperature anomalies ranging from 5 degrees Celsius (9 Farenheit) hotter (red areas) to 5 C (9 F) cooler (blue areas).

Color bar showing temperature anomalies ranging from 5 degrees Celsius (9 Farenheit) hotter (red areas) to 5 C (9 F) cooler (blue areas).

SST anomalies derived from NOAA-14/AVHRR SST data. This data is a 10 day average spanning 2/1/99 to 2/10/99 which was collected during the 1998-1999 La Niña event. An earlier animation of this La Niña event can be seen here.

SST anomalies derived from NOAA-14/AVHRR SST data. This data is a 10 day average spanning 2/1/99 to 2/10/99 which was collected during the 1998-1999 La Niña event. An earlier animation of this La Niña event can be seen here.

SST anomalies derived from Aqua/AMSR-E SST measurements. This data is a 10 day average spanning 2/1/06 to 2/10/06.

SST anomalies derived from Aqua/AMSR-E SST measurements. This data is a 10 day average spanning 2/1/06 to 2/10/06.

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Scientific Visualization Studio

Additional support provided by: Sarah Dewitt (NASA/GSFC) and Fred Kemman (HTSI).

This page was originally published on Tuesday, May 30, 2006.
This page was last updated on Wednesday, May 3, 2023 at 1:55 PM EDT.

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