Seasonal Variation

Seasonal variability of ENSO and PDO

Tables show the seasonal change in temperature in relation to ENSO and PDO phases. The warmest temperatures of a season are on the left; the coolest temperatures are on the right. ENSO phases are depicted in color. Orange represents an El Niño, green a neutral ENSO, and blue a La Niña. Our data show that while a La Niña event can occur in both the warmest and coolest temperatures, it will never occur during a warm PDO phase.


The Warmest and Coolest Temperatures

Highest and Lowest Temperatures

The box and whisker plotd show temperature deviation from the mean. The coolest temperatures (cool phase PDO and La Niña) have a greater range of temperatures below the average, indicating that this is a period when temperatures are the coolest. The warmest temperatures (warm phase PDO and El Niño) have a greater range above the average, indicating that during this time temperatures are the warmest.

Page Updated 06.12.2012