For the ocean this results in an elevated surface over a large area. Cold water contracts. For the ocean, this means a depressed surface. The Pacific Ocean is not the same temperature year after year. Warm and cold regions in the ocean influence rainfall patterns.
Warm water causes increased evaporation and more rainfall.
Cold water causes decreased evaporation and less rainfall. Depressions, or cut away portions of poster board were used to represent cooler than normal SST's. One sheet of poster board or cardboard was used for each layer. Each sea surface elevation depicted on the satellite image was identified using the colorbar below and a number was assigned to each color on the template. A template was then placed directly on a piece of foam poster board.