SEASONAL AND INTERANNUAL VARIABILITY OF ATMOSPHERIC CONVERGENCE ZONESIN THE TROPICAL PACIFIC OBSERVED WITH ERS-1 SCATTEROMETER

Monthly images of atmospheric convergence zones in the tropical Pacifi c were produced with 1992-1994 ERS-1 scatterometer wind vectors. From the images, the position, width, and intensity of the convergence zone s can be determined. Latitude-time sections of ocean surface wind dive rgence show that the summer position of the ITCZ in the eastern Pacifi c during the observed period exceeded the normal position northward by 3 degrees-6 degrees latitude, and the annual cycle in the western Pac ific for 1994 was quite weak, implying a persistently unusual case.