SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE (SST)

Warm sea surface temperatures (SST) in the equatorial strip across the central and eastern Pacific rapidly cooled during January 2007, and put an abrupt end to El Niño by February. During March 2007, the SST was consistent with ENSO-neutral conditions in the tropical Pacific, with average to slightly below-average SSTs extending from the date line to the west coast of South America . An area of anomalously warm SSTs persisted well west of the date line (near 165ºE), and an area of SSTs exceeding 30°C was centered between 150°E and 165°E. Warm SST in this region may be responsible for the continuing heavy rainfall at Kapingamarangi.