A summary of the broadscale tropical circulation from 70°E to 180°, for the six months May to October 1996, is presented. Weak La Niña conditions persisted through the season. An upward branch of the Walker circulation was enhanced at eastern Indian Ocean longitudes, while convection was somewhat suppressed in the east of the region. Surface pressures were generally less than average over most of the region during the period, and sea-surface temperatures were mostly warmer than climatology. Low-level easterlies in the eastern tropical Indian Ocean and the equatorial Pacific were stronger than the mean; wind flow was otherwise near normal. Four full cycles of the 30 to 60-day intraseasonal oscillation occurred, with periodicity being longer in the second half of the season. Overall, tropical cyclone numbers were a little above the long-term mean.
P. W. Bate (Sat,) studied this question.