A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering, School of Environment, Resources and Development

Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 1998

The El Nifio event was investigated using NOAA A VHRR Multi-Channel Sea Surface Temperature (MCSST) data, ERS AMI wind scatterometer data and TOPEX/Poseidon Altimeter data in the Pacific Ocean from 1991 to 1997. Derived parameters (sea surface temperature, wind vector and Sea surface height) were analyzed in order to investigate the relation between the ocean and the atmosphere. Measurements from all instruments are observed and show marked variations between El Nifio and Non El Nifio conditions. Fmiher investigations of temporal variations between their main parameters suggest that earliest detection of an El Nifio is provided by scatterometer. The sea surface temperature, wind, sea surface height differs from El Nifio and Non El Nifio season. SST anomaly shows that during the El Nifio season, the temperature(approximately +5°C) is higher than the normal season. Observed wind pattern shows a difference between the peak of an El Nifio year and normal year. The weakening of trade wind is apparent from the zonal wind analysis. Sea surface height from TOPEX/Poseidon altimeter data shows that the sea surface height(almost 20cm) is higher than normal season in Eastern pacific ocean during the El Nifio season.