On the 60-month cycle of multivariate ENSO index

Many point indices have been developed to describe El Niño/Southern Oscillation but the Multivariate El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Index (MEI) is considered the most representative since it links six different meteorological parameters measured over the tropical Pacific. Spectral analysis with appropriate data reduction techniques of monthly values of MEI (1950-2008) has allowed the identification of a large 60-month cycle, statistically confident at a level larger than 99%. The highest values of MEI (typical of El Niño events) and the lowest values of MEI (typical of La Niña events) are concordant with respective maxima and minima values of the identified 60-month cycle.