FY 2000

The ENSO observing system

McPhaden, M.J., T. Delcroix, K. Hanawa, Y. Kuroda, G. Meyers, J. Picaut, and M. Swenson

In Proceedings of the International Conference on The Ocean Observing System for Climate, Session 2A, Saint-Raphael, France, 18–22 October 1999, 14 pp (2000)

This paper reviews the status of the ENSO (El Niño/Southern Oscillation) Observing System, with emphasis of the Pacific Ocean during the recent 1997–98 El Niño and subsequent La Niña. Contributions of this system to detection, monitoring, forecasting, and understanding of ENSO related climate swings will be described. Recommended enhancements and extensions to the observing system will also be presented.