ENSO

El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) - warm (El Niño) and cold (La Niña) years are based on a +/- 0.5°C threshold of the November thru March average Niño 3.4 region (5°N-5°S, 120°-170°W) sea-surface temperature anomaly (based on the 1981-2010 base period). Neutral years are when when the average Niño 3.4 anomaly is -0.5°C > 0 < 0.5°C.

More information on:
- Display classification
- Don't Display
- Select period based on La Niña, El Niño, Neutral

 

Display classification - Selecting this option will display the ENSO classification (La Niña, El Niño, Neutral) on the plot, examples below.

• Example when plotting "Multiple sites, single season". Available for monthly data and entire season plots.

 

• Example when plotting "Single site, multiple seasons", monthly data. Not available when plotting an entire season.

 

Don't Display - Default option, no ENSO labeling or filtering.

• Example

 

Select period based on La Niña, El Niño, Neutral - Selecting this option will filter the season/year selection box to show only the selected ENSO years. For example, if La Niña is selected, the season/years that will be avilable to plot will be La Niña years. This is useful if you want to compare snow depth for specific years based on ENSO.

• Example with La Niña selected

 

• Example with El Niño and La Niña selected

 

• Example plot of Mount Baker April 1 snow pack with El Niño and La Niña selected