Precipitation (Stations) Conditioned on ENSO

This figure shows the historical probability (given as a percentage) of seasonal (Jan-Mar, Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep, Oct-Dec) station precipitation totals falling within the upper (wet) one-third, middle (near-normal) one-third, or bottom (dry) one-third of the historical (1901-1990) distribution given the state of ENSO (El Niño, Neutral, La Niña) during that same season.

Here, the ENSO state for each season is determined by the seasonal average of the NINO3 SST index. If the seasonal average NINO3 SST index is in the top (bottom) 20% of the historical distribution for the season, the ENSO state is classified as El Niño (La Niña). The ENSO state is Neutral if the NINO3 index falls between the 20th and 80th percentiles of the historical distribution. Use the controls above the figure to select the season, ENSO state, and precipitation category of interest.

Dataset Documentation

Precipitation Data

Data

U.S. NCDC Global Climate Perspectives System (GCPS) monthly station precipitation from January 1901 to December 1990

Data Source

NOAA National Climatic Data Center (NCDC) (GCPS)

Analysis

Historical probability of seasonal precipitation totals falling within each tercile given the state of ENSO as defined by the NINO3 index

SST Data

Data

Kaplan NINO3 index from Optimal Smoother analysis of MOHSST5 monthly sea surface temperature anomalies from January 1901 to December 1990

Data Source

Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, IRI Data Library (Kaplan NINO3 index)

Analysis

Seasonal-average NINO3 SST index classified into the top 20% (El Niño), bottom 20% (La Niña), or between the 20th and 80th percentiles of the historical distribution (Neutral)

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