The Definition of El Niño, Table 2

Trenberth, K. E. (1997) The Definition of El Niño

Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 78, 2771-2777.

Table 2

Niño 3.4 Region (120°W-170°W, 5°S-5°N)
±0.4°C Threshold

La Niña Events El Niño Events

Begin End Duration Begin End Duration

Mar, 1950 Feb, 1951 12

Aug, 1951 Feb, 1952 7

Mar, 1953 Nov, 1953 9

Jun, 1954 Mar, 1956 22

May, 1956 Nov, 1956 7

Apr, 1957 Jun, 1958 15

Jun, 1963 Feb, 1964 9

May, 1964 Jan, 1965 9

May, 1965 Jun, 1966 14

Sep, 1968 Mar, 1970 19

Jul, 1970 Jan, 1972 19

Apr, 1972 Mar, 1973 12

Jun, 1973 Jun, 1974 13

Sep, 1974 Apr, 1976 20

Aug, 1976 Mar, 1977 8

Jul, 1977 Jan, 1978 7

Oct, 1979 Apr, 1980 7

Apr, 1982 Jul, 1983 16

Sep, 1984 Jun, 1985 10

Aug, 1986 Feb, 1988 19

May, 1988 Jun, 1989 14

Mar, 1991 Jul, 1992 17

Feb, 1993 Sep, 1993 8

Jun, 1994 Mar, 1995 10

Sep, 1995 Mar, 1996 7

Apr, 1997 Apr, 1998 13

Jul, 1998 Presently through Dec 1999 18 months and counting

Niño 3.4 Region (120°W-170°W, 5°S-5°N) ±0.4°C Threshold
La Niña Events	El Niño Events
Begin	End	Duration	Begin	End	Duration
Mar, 1950	Feb, 1951	12
			Aug, 1951	Feb, 1952	7
			Mar, 1953	Nov, 1953	9
Jun, 1954	Mar, 1956	22
May, 1956	Nov, 1956	7
			Apr, 1957	Jun, 1958	15
			Jun, 1963	Feb, 1964	9
May, 1964	Jan, 1965	9
			May, 1965	Jun, 1966	14
			Sep, 1968	Mar, 1970	19
Jul, 1970	Jan, 1972	19
			Apr, 1972	Mar, 1973	12
Jun, 1973	Jun, 1974	13
Sep, 1974	Apr, 1976	20
			Aug, 1976	Mar, 1977	8
			Jul, 1977	Jan, 1978	7
			Oct, 1979	Apr, 1980	7
			Apr, 1982	Jul, 1983	16
Sep, 1984	Jun, 1985	10
			Aug, 1986	Feb, 1988	19
May, 1988	Jun, 1989	14
			Mar, 1991	Jul, 1992	17
			Feb, 1993	Sep, 1993	8
			Jun, 1994	Mar, 1995	10
Sep, 1995	Mar, 1996	7
			Apr, 1997	Apr, 1998	13
Jul, 1998	Presently through Dec 1999	18 months and counting

Table 2 lists La Niña and El Niño events after 1950 as defined by SST anomalies in Niño 3.4 Region and exceeding ±0.4°C threshold. The starting and ending month of each event is given with the duration in months. Coupled events where SST anomalies remained of one sign are indicated in blue for La Niña and red for El Niño.

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