Wind Anomalies during El Nino/La Nina Event of 1997-1998
The El Nino/La Nina event in 1997-1999 was particularly intense, but was also very well observed by satellites and buoys. Deviations from normal winds speeds and directions of the were computed using data from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSMI) on the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) satellite.

Animation (2040x504)
This animation shows El Nino and La Nina from
1997 through 1998. Each frame is a ten-day average of wind
anomalies--that is, of differences from normal wind velocities.
The area shown in the animation is the Pacific ocean
from -21 to +21 latitude and +120 to +290 East
longitude.

Legend