Monthly variability in the ocean habitat off Peru deduced from maritime observations

Monthly time scncs, generated fmm summaries of mantime rcpons from the repion off Peru. are presented for rhc pond 1953 to 1984. These include su surface temperamre. d w d cover. atmospncnc pressure.-wind-cubed ” inacx of rate of addition of turbuienr mlxmg cncqy to the ocean by rhc wind. wvurd s m s components. roiar ndiauon. long-wave ‘back ndiauon evawrauvc h u t loss and net aunosphere-ocean neat exchange. All series are found to undergo mtemiired nonseasonal vanations at muluyear penodr. El NZo episodes arc characterized by mmse mrbular muing of the ocean by the wind, intense offsnoredirected Ekman lranspon and bv low net heat gam to rhc ocean throuph the sea surface. Effcnr of constant versus vanable transfer coefictent fomdarlons on rhc bulk icrodynamc flux esumatcs arc discussed. Ccmm c m m u on the urilization of thcsc dau in analysls of bioiogicai cifccu ire offered