This OSTM/Jason-2 image of the Pacific Ocean is based on the average of 10 days of data centered on Sept. 3, 2010. A new image depicts places where the Pacific sea surface height is higher (warmer) than normal as yellow and red, with places where the sea surface is lower (cooler) than normal as blue and purple.

Green indicates near-normal conditions. Sea surface height is an indicator of how much of the sun's heat is stored in the upper ocean.

La Nina ocean conditions often follow an El Nino episode and are essentially the opposite of El Nino conditions. During a La Nina episode, trade winds are stronger than normal, and the cold water that normally exists along the coast of South America extends to the central equatorial Pacific.

La Nina episodes change global weather patterns and are associated with less moisture in the air over cooler ocean waters, resulting in less rain along the coasts of North and South America and the equator, and more rain in the far Western Pacific.

"This La Nina has strengthened for the past four months, is strong now and is still building," said Climatologist Bill Patzert of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. "It will surely impact this coming winter's weather and climate.

"After more than a decade of mostly dry years on the Colorado River watershed and in the American Southwest, and only one normal rain year in the past five years in Southern California, water supplies are dangerously low," Patzert added.

"This La Nina could deepen the drought in the already parched Southwest and could also worsen conditions that have fueled Southern California's recent deadly wildfires."

NASA will continue to track this change in Pacific climate.

The comings and goings of El Nino and La Nina are part of a long-term, evolving state of global climate, for which measurements of sea surface height are a key indicator. JPL manages the U.S. portion of the OSTM/Jason-2 mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C.

Share This Article With Planet Earth

del.icio.us	Digg	Reddit
YahooMyWeb	Google	Facebook

Related Links
NASA ocean surface topography missions
Earth Observation News - Suppiliers, Technology and Application

Russian Air-Defense Bases Require Additional Protection Northrop Grumman to Bid For Missile Defense Objective Simulation Framework Upgraded Aegis Weapon Systems Proven Operational F-35's DAS Demonstrates Ballistic Missile Defense Capabilities France wants missile firms to link up Russia in 300-million-dollar missile deal with Syria: report Future Missile System For Gripen B-1 Carries Record-Setting Missile Load EADS Continues Flight Test Campaign Of Barracuda US drone strikes kill 17 militants in Pakistan Ukraine May Deliver Engines For Russian UAVs Two US drone strikes kill 15 militants in Pakistan MEADS Completes CDR And Is Ready For Flight Test Airborne Multi-Intelligence Lab Demonstrates Intelligence Integration Boeing Vigilare Enters Service With RAAF General Dynamics' Warrior Antenna Terminals Textron And MDT Armor Team On Tiger Light Armored Vehicle BAE To Debut New South African-Designed And Developed SD-ROW Turret Russia's Kazan Aircraft Plant To Build Next Gen Bomber SELEX Galileo Awarded Contract To Supply Praetorian DASS Swiss army made covert mission in Libya: media Australia in line for Boeing's Growler India to buy more Mi-17 military helos US clears Colombia for military assistance NATO plans slimline military command Japan notes China's 'restraint' of protests U.S., China to resume military talks Brazil opposed to NATO role in S. Atlantic Boeing Receives Task Order For Design Of Free Electron Laser Lab Demonstrator Lasers could protect helicopters from harm New System Developed To Test And Evaluate High-Energy Laser Weapons Truck-borne laser weapon to be on way soon