Interannual variability of SST, SLA and wind waves in the Hawaii area and their responses to ENSO

Time series of sea surface temperature (SST), wind speed and significant wave height (SWH) from meteorological buoys of the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) are useful for studying the interannual variability and trend of these quantities at the buoy areas. The measurements from 4 buoys (B51001, B51002, B51003 and B51004) in the Hawaii area are used to study the responses of the quantities to EI Nino and Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Long-term averages of these data reflect precise seasonal and climatological characteristics of SST, wind speed and SWH around the Hawaii area. Buoy observations from B51001 suggest a significant warming trend which is, however, not very clear from the other three buoys. Compared with the variability of SST and SWH, the wind speeds from the buoy observations show an increasing trend. The impacts of EI Nino on SST and wind waves are also shown. Sea level data observed by altimeter during October 1992 to September 2006 are analyzed to investigate the variability of sea level in the Hawaii area. The results also show an increasing trend in sea level anomaly (SLA). The low-passed SLA in the Hawaii area is consistent with the inverse phase of the low-passed SOI (Southern Oscillation Index). Compared with the low-passed SOI and PDO (Pacific Decadal Oscillation), the low-passed PNA (Pacific-North America Index) has a better correlation with the low-passed SLA in the Hawaii area.