How Well Did Measurements of Sea Surface Temperature, Rainfall, Phytoplankton Abundance and Walker Circulation Winds in the 2014-2015 El Niño Match Similar Observations Recorded in the Four Previous El Niño Events Since the 1997-1998 El Niño Event?

Abstract:

Sea surface temperature (SST) is a critical parameter to describe an El Niño event. However, SST is insufficient to solely determine the characteristics of El Niño because a large number of ocean and atmosphere factors influence SST. The relative significance of these factors for each El Niño event produces El Niño diversity. Zonal wind component at the sea surface and throughout the troposphere, SST, rainfall, and phytoplankton abundance recorded since October 2014 (the onset of the 2014-2015 El Niño event) will be compared with measurements recorded over four El Niño events that occurred since the 1997-1998 El Niño event. Analyses have been made for October 2014 – June 2015, and will be extended to a later time should El Niño conditions persist after the submittal of the abstract. The Niño 3.4 SST Anomaly was 1.1 °C in June 2015, and the 2014-2015 El Niño event is expected to continue to evolve. I shall provide the answer to the question posed in the title.