Seasonal climate summary southern hemisphere (spring 2006): a weak El Niño in the tropical Pacific - warm and dry conditions in eastern and southern Australia

Southern hemisphere circulation patterns and associated anomalies for the austral spring 2006 are reviewed. Particular emphasis is given to the Australian and Pacific regions. After developing during the winter, spring 2006 saw an El Niño event in the equatorial Pacific Ocean reach its maturity. Ocean surface and subsurface temperatures in the central to eastern tropical Pacific remained well above normal throughout the season, affecting many features of the general circulation and resulting in significant impacts in both the northern and southern hemispheres. For Australia, widespread dry conditions dominated the east and south, consistent with historical El Niño impacts. Many new spring temperature records were also set. Such warm and dry conditions intensified the long-term drought for much of eastern and southern Australia. Over the Antarctic, the size of the ozone hole during spring 2006 was at record or near-record levels.