The general circulation of the southern hemisphere during winter (June - August) 1996 is reviewed with particular emphasis given to the equatorial Pacific Ocean and Australian regions. In autumn 1996, atmospheric and oceanic indicators suggested a decline in the weak La Niña event experienced earlier in the year. However, during winter the decline in the atmospheric component was not maintained with atmospheric indicators continuing to display the characteristics of a weakly enhanced equatorial Walker circulation. The oceanic component also appeared to halt its trend toward average conditions with the consolidation of weak cold anomalies in the eastern equatorial Pacific. The climate parameters influencing the Australian rainfall and temperature patterns during the season are also discussed. Significantly lower than normal mean sea-level pressure to the south of Australia resulted in dominant westerly flow over the southern half of the continent. Cold fronts embedded in this flow provided significant winter rainfall throughout southern regions. Anomalous northwesterly flow in central Australia resulted in temperatures of up to 4°C warmer than normal.
D. A. Collins (Sat,) studied this question.
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