Seasonal climate summary southern hemisphere (spring 2008): La Niña pattern returning across the equatorial Pacific

Abstract

Southern hemisphere circulation patterns and associated anomalies for the austral spring 2008 are reviewed, with emphasis given to the Pacific Basin climate indicators and Australian rainfall and temperature patterns. During spring 2008, the tropical Pacific showed some characteristics of a La Niña development. Seasurface temperatures were below the long-term average across the central equatorial Pacific. Subsurface waters showed a large volume of cooler-than-average water stretching from the central to eastern Pacific. Over the western parts of the central Pacific, the trade winds were enhanced. The Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) was persistently positive. Nationally the seasonal maximum and minimum temperatures were generally above average. The Indian Ocean Dipole and the Southern Annular Mode were both in their positive phases, with rainfall generally below normal across southeastern Australia.