The U.S. National Oceanographic and Atmospheric
Administration - NOAA - (U.S. tax dollars at work - thank you) is
predicting peak "La Niña" conditions in December 2011 / January
2012, after which they are expected to taper off. What does
that mean for Galapagos bound adventurers? Typically, La Niña
in Galapagos is characterized by cooler than usual water
temperatures, and a drier climate. Normally we expect
water temperatures to be at their warmest from about January to
April - though these should still be the warmest of the year, they
will likely be a little cooler. Those of you already
inclined to use a wetsuit might want to go ahead with it.
January - April is also considered the wet season, for the
occasional tropical downpours. These rains trigger the
"Galapagos spring" in the plant community, resulting in the
sprouting of leaves in the trees. During a "La Niña",
if the rains fail, the leaves don't come out so well, resulting in
a winter like landscape of leafless trees in some parts.
The picture below (credit to NOAA) reflects surface water
temperatures in the Pacific. It indicates that water
temperatures in Galapagos are between 2 and 3 degrees Celsius (3.6
to 5.4 degrees Farenheit) below normal for this time of year.
As November waters are usually at their chilliest, anyone
contemplating a swim in the islands in the next few weeks will
likely appreciate a wetsuit.
