Previous research showed that low-level flow over the Galápagos Islands was decoupled from that above during some time periods studied. When decoupling occurred, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were cooler than 23ºC; during the coupled cases, SSTs were warmer than 24°C. Here six TAO buoys provide... Show morePrevious research showed that low-level flow over the Galápagos Islands was decoupled from that above during some time periods studied. When decoupling occurred, sea surface temperatures (SSTs) were cooler than 23ºC; during the coupled cases, SSTs were warmer than 24°C. Here six TAO buoys provided SSTs collected from 1994 to 2003 were used to look at characteristics of SSTs west of the Galápagos in the range of 23°C to 24°C. The occurrence of SSTs in this range depended on cold and warm seasons; whether it was during El Niño, La Niña, or normal periods; and on the locations of the TAO buoys. SSTs between 23°C and 24°C were less frequent at the 2ºN buoys, during strong El Niño periods, and in the middle of cold and warm seasons. Show less
