tolakram wrote:Do we know for a fact the winds control the water temperatures rather than the other way around? Best I can tell there is still a lot of information about el nino formation that is not known.
This is a complicated question. Its the chicken or egg question. But some things are evident, during early stages or when there is no clear depiction, weather patterns and winds can often control back and forth as in a neutral state, hence the term which we technically are in. When something such as strong trades, or wwb they can tip the balance. If it is enough you get a feedback and sst reach a point that is matured it can influence strongly the winds thus claiming El Nino/La Nina or the coupling of the Ocean and atmosphere.