Climate is what you expect; Weather is what you get. Climate Weather
Sea Surface Temperature
Satellite composite view. Tom Van Sant/The GeoSphere Project.
Sea Surface Temperature
Pacific Basin Sea Surface Temperature Sea surface temp is higher on the western side of the basin. Sea surface height is also greater. 80 degrees F 60 – 70 degrees F (above image from NOAA Climate Prediction Center )
El Niño
(above image from NOAA Climate Prediction Center)
La Niña : Cold ocean temperatures in the equatorial eastern Pacific. Image from NASA, Goddard Space Flight Center
2008 is a La Niña year.
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration: Climate Prediction Center for June 2008 Lots of rain Drought United States Climate trends in La Niña years
Cedar Rapids, Iowa June 13, 2008 Flooding of the Cedar River (400 square blocks of the city under water) Photo: CBS NewsPhoto: Huffington Post Photo: Chicago Tribune
Graph from NOAA: Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service
Hurricane Dean August 2007
Katrina August 2005