Meteorological aspects of El Nino.

Abstract

Analysis of data from a recently compiled atlas elucidates the role of the annual cycle in modifying the great 1972-73 Nino, and confirms that off S America upwelling and sea surface temperature are not directly linked. Meridional profiles derived from the atlas reveal that oceanic heat loss to the air is a function of wind speed rather than of sea surface temperature and that rainfall can be accounted for in terms of the horizontal convergence of moisture.-from Authors