Data from the equator 7. The data in the following section are from NOAA's TAO buoy array along the equatorial Pacific. Each diagram has two parts. Arrows point in the direction the wind is blowing toward and longer arrow length indicates stronger wind speed. Temperature anomalies greater than 0.0 are places with higher than normal sea-surface temperatures and anomalies less than 0.0 are lower than normal.
Arrows show differences in wind direction and speed.
For example, an arrow pointing toward the east shows winds that are more easterly than normal. The longer the arrow, the stronger the anomaly. Note that these diagrams account for expected seasonal variations. Another way to view the NOAA buoy data is shown below. The diagram is the monthly average from November 1996 and shows normal conditions along the equator.