What is ENSO (El Niño / Southern Oscillation)?
The term ENSO refers to the consistent year-to-year variations in sea- surface temperatures, convective rainfall, surface air pressure, and atmospheric circulation that occur across the equatorial Pacific Ocean. El Niño and La Niña are the opposite extremes in the ENSO cycle. For more detailed information about the ENSO cycle, visit the International Research Institute for Climate Prediction or the CPC’s ENSO Cycle page.
