February 2023 Sea Surface Temperature Assessment
A. Niño Regions
Niño sea surface temperature (SST) Indices are based on the average of SST anomalies across the given regions: Niño 1+2 (0-10S, 90W-80W), Niño 3 (5N-5S, 150W-90W), Niño 3.4 (5N-5S, 170W-120W) and Niño 4 (5N-5S, 160E-150W). These indices are used to monitor the conditions in the Tropical Pacific for the occurrence of El Niño or La Niña.
Sea surface temperatures in the central equatorial Pacific are mostly near average. However, the eastern equatorial Pacific and most of the the western Pacific near the Maritime continent was observed to be slightly warmer than average and slightly cooler than average around Indonesia.
B. Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)
The Indian Ocean Dipole mode Index (DMI) is defined as the difference between the SST anomalies (ºC) of Western (10ºS-10ºN & 50ºE-70ºE) and Eastern (10ºS-0ºN & 90ºE-110ºE) Equatorial Indian Ocean regions (WEST-EAST). The DMI values represent the intensity of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD); DMI values above +0.4 °C is referred as the positive IOD, DMI values below −0.4 °C is referred as the negative IOD and DMI values between +0.4 °C and -0.4 °C is referred as the neutral IOD.
Neutral IOD was still observed during the month, with the western and eastern equatorial Indian Ocean were showing both below average temperatures.
