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File: ENSO_globe_SSTA_Jan-Dec2021_1200x630.gif

Animation of monthly maps of departure from average sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean from January through December 2021 showing how La Niña cooled the basin at the beginning and end of the year

Image caption

Animation of monthly sea surface temperatures across the Pacific Ocean compared to the 1985-1993 average from January-December 2022. With La Niña—the cool phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation climate pattern—in place at the start and end of the year, the Pacific was cooler-than-average (blue) at the equator throughout much of the year. NOAA Climate.gov image, based Coral Reef Watch data. Maps from our Data Snapshots collection.