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File: Image ENSOblog_air_pressure_anomalies_20220623.jpg

File name: ENSOblog_air_pressure_anomalies_20220623.jpg
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Alternate Text: Globe-style maps of Northern Hemisphere centered on the North Pacific showing air pressure anomalies and prevailing wind direction during La Niña winters and El Niño winters
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Globe-style maps of Northern Hemisphere centered on the North Pacific showing air pressure anomalies and prevailing wind direction during La Niña winters and El Niño winters

Image caption

Difference from average air pressure and wind direction for all winters (December–February) with a moderate or strong La Niña (left) or El Niño (right).  Moderate and strong are defined by anomalies of at least 1 degree Celsius in the Niño 3.4 region (NOAA's Oceanic Niño Index). The 500-millibar geopotential height is the height above Earth's surface where the air has thinned enough that the pressure has decreased to 500 millibars. (At the surface, it's a little over 1,000 millibars on average). Higher than average heights (orange) mean higher pressure than average; lower heights (purple) mean lower pressure than average. NOAA Climate.gov images based on data provided by NOAA Physical Science Laboratory.