El Niño Zoom to Cross-section of Sea Temperature and Height: January 1997 through March 1998

An animation of sea surface temperature, sea surface height, and sea temperature at depth in the Pacific Ocean from January 1997 through March 1998 as measured by NOAA AVHRR, TOPEX Poseidon, and the TAO TRITON Array

Views of sea surface height (represented by the bumps) and sea temperature (represented by the color). Red is 30 degrees C, blue is 8 degrees C. The thermocline is the border between the dark blue at the bottom and the cyan. The thermocline exists at 20 degress C.

Views of sea surface height (represented by the bumps) and sea temperature (represented by the color). Red is 30 degrees C, blue is 8 degrees C. The thermocline is the border between the dark blue at the bottom and the cyan. The thermocline exists at 20 degress C.

Views of sea surface height (represented by the bumps) and sea temperature (represented by the color). Red is 30 degrees C, blue is 8 degrees C. The thermocline is the border between the dark blue at the bottom and the cyan. The thermocline exists at 20 degress C.

Views of sea surface height (represented by the bumps) and sea temperature (represented by the color). Red is 30 degrees C, blue is 8 degrees C. The thermocline is the border between the dark blue at the bottom and the cyan. The thermocline exists at 20 degress C.

Video slate image reads "El-Niño "Runs Deep" Actual SST at Actual Depth (Jan. 97 to March 98)".