Mar. 11, 2004 Using satellite and other data, scientists have
discovered that sea surface temperatures and sea level pressure
in the North Pacific have undergone unusual changes over the
last five years. These changes to the North Pacific Ocean
climate system are different from those that dominated for the
past 50-80 years, which has led scientists to conclude that
there is more than one key to the climate of that region than
previously thought. According to a study by Nicholas Bond, J.E.
Overland and P. Stabeno of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory,
and M. Spillane of the University of Washington, during the last
four winters from 1999-2002 (ranging from November to March) sea
surface temperatures were cooler than normal along the U.S. west
coast and warmer than normal in the coastal Gulf of Alaska.
These conditions differ from those of the Pacific Decadal
Oscillation (PDO), thought to be the primary key that causes the
climate of the North Paci