Simple linear composites are created for 3 categories: All strong and weak years All strong and weak years during ENSO events All strong and weak years outside of ENSO events Strong years during ENSO events (La Nina) include: 1970, 1975, 1988 Weak years during ENSO events (El Niño) include: 1965, 1968, 1972, 1982, 1987 Strong years outside of ENSO events include: 1959, 1983, 1994 Weak years outside of ENSO events include: 1966, 1974, 1979, 1985, 1986

Data   The bulk of the analysis uses the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis at 6-hourly resolution on a 2.5o (winds, temperature, humidity) or 1.8o (fluxes, rainfall) grid. Available from 1958-1998. The ECMWF reanalysis for evaluation of 1987 and 1988 (6-hourly, 2.5o grid) Reconstructed Reynolds SST. Available from 1958-1998.