nrt-global-allsat-phy-l4-20220101-20240207-2160p30sm.mp4
Summary: This video shows the evolution of Pacific Ocean sea surface temperature anomalies from January 2022 to February 2024, highlighting the transition from La Niña to El Niño conditions.
The animated video displays a color-coded map of the Pacific Ocean, illustrating sea surface temperature anomalies from January 1, 2022, to February 7, 2024. Red and orange hues represent warmer-than-average waters (positive anomalies), while blue and purple indicate cooler-than-average waters (negative anomalies). The animation clearly depicts a multi-year La Niña event characterized by a prominent band of cool waters along the equatorial Pacific, extending westward from South America. As the video progresses, these cool anomalies gradually diminish, giving way to the emergence and strengthening of warm anomalies in the eastern and central equatorial Pacific, signaling the onset and development of an El Niño event.
Playback guide
1. startTime: 00:00 endTime: 00:00 label: Initial view of Pacific Ocean temperature anomalies, showing a mix of warm (red/orange) and cool (blue/purple) areas, with a visible blue band along the equator indicating La Niña conditions. 2. startTime: 00:00 endTime: 00:05 label: The animation begins, depicting a period dominated by La Niña, with a prominent band of cooler-than-average temperatures (blue) stretching across the equatorial Pacific, extending from the coast of South America westward. 3. startTime: 00:05 endTime: 00:15 label: La Niña conditions intensify and persist. The band of cool water along the equator becomes more pronounced and widespread, indicating strong negative sea surface temperature anomalies. 4. startTime: 00:15 endTime: 00:20 label: Cooler temperatures continue to dominate the equatorial Pacific, characteristic of a sustained La Niña event. Some warmer patches are visible in other parts of the ocean. 5. startTime: 00:20 endTime: 00:26 label: A clear transition occurs. The cool blue band begins to weaken and recede, gradually being replaced by expanding areas of warmer-than-average temperatures (red/orange) along the equator, signaling the emergence and strengthening of El Niño conditions.