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Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

National Climatic Data Center

Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) data at the top of the atmosphere are observed from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) instrument aboard the NOAA polar orbiting spacecraft. Data are centered across equatorial areas from 160°E to 160°W longitude. The raw data are converted into a standardized anomaly index. Negative (Positive) OLR are indicative of enhanced (suppressed) convection and hence more (less) cloud coverage typical of El Niño (La Niña) episodes. More (Less) convective activity in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific implies higher (lower), colder (warmer) cloud tops, which emit much less (more) infrared radiation into space. More information can be found at the Climate Prediction Center OLR page.

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Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) Last Five Months (W/m2)
Dec 2011Jan 2012Feb 2012Mar 2012Apr 2012
+1.7
+1.8
+1.9
+0.8
+0.1
Source: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/data/indices/olr
Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) Period of Record Time series
Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR)
Period of Record Time series
Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) Time series since 2000
Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR)
Time series since 2000

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For all climate questions, please contact the National Climatic Data Center's Climate Services and Monitoring Division:

Climate Services and Monitoring Division
NOAA/National Climatic Data center
151 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801-5001
fax: +1-828-271-4876
phone: +1-828-271-4800
email: ncdc.info@noaa.gov
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