SEASONAL CLIMATE SUMMARY SOUTHERN-HEMISPHERE (WINTER 1997) - A DEVELOPING EL-NINO EVENT

Southern hemisphere circulation patterns and anomalies for winter (Jun e - August) 1997 are reviewed, with emphasis given to the Pacific Basi n climate indicators, and Australian rainfall and temperature patterns . In autumn, an El Nino event began to develop, During winter, this El Nino event intensified, as indicated by sea-surface temperature patte rns and negative values of the Southern Oscillation Index. The subtrop ical ridge in the Australian region was located much further south tha n is normal for this time of the year, resulting in dry conditions alo ng most of the Australian southern coastline.