November 29, 2015
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a quasi-periodic fluctuation of ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. The temperatures generally fluctuate between two states: warmer than normal central and eastern equatorial Pacific (El Niño) and cooler than normal central and eastern equatorial Pacific (La Niña). This animation illustrates the evolution of sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies (relative to the respective normal state) in the Pacific Ocean associated with the developing 2015 El Niño, the warm phase ENSO. SST anomalies reflect the heat content in the mixed layer (upper 50 meters).
March 23, 2015
Global surface wind vector flow lines colored gray from 1 June 2011 to 31 October 2011. The visualization show the directional flow and magnitude of surface wind vector data (calibrated to a 10 meter reference height) from June 2011 through October 2011.
March 23, 2015
Global surface wind vector flow lines colored by wind speed from 1 June 2011 to 31 October 2011. The visualization show the directional flow and magnitude of surface wind vector data (calibrated to a 10 meter reference height) from June 2011 through October 2011.
March 23, 2015
Global surface wind vector flow lines over sea surface temperature from 1 June 2011 to 31 October 2011. The visualization show the directional flow and magnitude of surface wind vector data (calibrated to a 10 meter reference height) from June 2011 through October 2011.
March 23, 2015
North Atlantic surface wind vector flow lines over sea surface temperature from 1 June 2011 to 31 October 2011. The visualization show the directional flow and magnitude of surface wind vector data (calibrated to a 10 meter reference height) from June 2011 through October 2011.
December 13, 2014
The animation illustrates the evolution of sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) associated with the 2009-10 El Niño in the Pacific Ocean. The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a quasi-periodic fluctuation of ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. The temperatures generally fluctuate between two states: warmer than normal central and eastern equatorial Pacific (El Niño) and cooler than normal central and eastern equatorial Pacific (La Niña).
December 12, 2014
The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a quasi-periodic fluctuation of ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific. The temperatures generally fluctuate between two states: warmer than normal central and eastern equatorial Pacific (El Niño) and cooler than normal central and eastern equatorial Pacific (La Niña). The 1997-98 event was the first major El Niño that was observed extensively by satellites, including those that measured SST and sea surface height (SSH). These measurements are helpful to examine the evolution of an El Niño event.
February 12, 2014
This visualization from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013 shows sea surface temperatures (SST) associated with the Agulhas Current near South Africa at 1-kilometer (~0.6 mile) resolution. The Agulhas Current is a western boundary current that transports warm water southward in the Indian Ocean along the west coast of Africa. Near South Africa the current retroflects (or turns back on itself), called the Agulhas Retroflection, due to interactions with the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Eddies that form as a result of Agulhas Retroflection are clearly visible in the animation.
February 12, 2014
This visualization from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2013 shows sea surface temperatures (SST) in the Eastern Pacific near Central America at 1-kilometer (~0.6 mile) resolution. Cold SSTs are clearly visible off the Central American coast from October to March. Such cooling events are associated with accelerated winds that blow through gaps in the mountainous terrain of Central America.
February 5, 2013
This visualization celebrates over a year of successful Aquarius observations. Sea surface salinity is shown at various locations around the globe. The range of time shown is December 2011 through December 2012. The data continuously loops through this range every 6 seconds. This visualization was generated based on version 2.0 of the Aquarius data products with all 3 scanning beams.