Oceanography The Official Magazine of
The Oceanography Society

Volume 16 | Number 1 | 2003

On the Cover: Image from NASA's Jason satellite, taken during a 10-day collection cycle ending December 2, 2002, shows the Pacific dominated by two significant areas of higher than-normal sea level (warmer ocean temperatures). In the central equatorial Pacific, the large area of higher than normal sea surface heights (warmer than normal sea surface temperatures) associated with growing El NiƱo conditions has recently migrated eastward toward the coast of South America. Meanwhile, the influence of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation continues to create warm, higher-than-normal sea-surface heights in the north Pacific that are connected in a warm horseshoe pattern with the western and southern Pacific. The image shows red areas in the north Pacific and at the equator that are about 10 centimeters above normal; white areas are between 14 and 32 centimeters above normal.
Cover PDF
Volume 16 Issue 01
ROGER REVELLE COMMEMORATIVE LECTURE