Does the Influence of El Niño Southern Oscillation Increase from East to West in the United States?
Project: The ICP Climate Impacts team studied the relationship between ocean phenomena and extreme events such as droughts, floods and hurricanes. Improved understanding of these relationships may lead to better capability to predict climate extremes and planning for their impact on agriculture and water, health, and safety. Caryle Ann Francis, a new student from School of the Future was a researcher on the project. With guidance from Dr. Jennifer Phillips, her GISS scientist, and Allison Godshall, a faculty member from her school, Caryle Ann’s research focused on demonstrating the significance of El Niño in the US and discerning if there is an ENSO continental pattern from east to west. Methodology: Precipitation data from climate divisions in the US states of Oregon, Iowa, and New York were used. The data was compared to Sea Surface Temperature (SST) anomalies from the southwestern coast of South America. The SST anomalies from this geographic region called Niño3 (5° north and south
