Unusual conditions in the tropical Atlantic Ocean in 1984

During the first half of 1984, oceanic and atmospheric conditions in the tropical Atlantic were, in many respects, similar to conditions in the Pacific Ocean during El Niño: The upper ocean was unusually warm in the eastern part of the basin, rainfall was heavy over the normally arid regions to the south of the Equator, and coastal upwelling was inhibited in regions (southwestern Africa) where this is a seasonal phenomenon. The change in sea-surface temperatures, which resulted when unusual eastward currents to the south of the Equator transported warm surface waters towards Africa, contributed to the change in atmospheric conditions. The altered atmospheric conditions, in turn, contributed to the change in the oceanic circulation and the change in the sea-surface temperature.