Seasonal climate summary southern hemisphere (winter 1987): a season of characteristic Pacific ENSO anomaly patterns

Analyses of the southern hemisphere circulation for the austral winter, June to August 1987 inclusive, are presented. Emphasis is given to the Australian region: an area bounded roughly by Antarctica, the equator, the dateline and 90°E. Anomalous seasonal conditions associated with an El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) episode are reviewed. Analyses for middle to high latitudes are described, noting the main planetary wave characteristics. Notable features, characteristic of ENSO, were the enhanced convection near the equatorial dateline and the anomalous low-level westerlies continuing along the equatorial Pacific. Associated with these features were the abnormally strong subtropical upper-level westerlies on the poleward sides of a pair of upper anomalous anticyclone centres in the central equatorial Pacific. Interactions between the tropics and higher latitudes are surveyed, particularly those connnected with the ENSO episode.