Ship observations of sea surface temperature (SST), sea level pressure and surface wind, and satellite measurements of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) (an indicator of deep tropical convection) are used to describe the large-scale atmospheric circulation over the tropical Pacific during composite warm and cold episodes. Results are based on linear regression analysis between the circulation parameters and an index of SST in the tropical Pacific during the period 1946–85 (1974–89 for OLR). Warm episodes along the Peru coast (i.e., El Niño events) and basin-wide warmings associated with the Southern Oscillation are examined separately. Charts of the total as well as anomalous fields of SST, sea level pressure, surface wind and OLR for both warm and cold episodes are presented. SST and surface wind anomalies associated with warm episodes are consistent with the results of Rasmusson and Carpenter (1982). El Niño events are characterized by strong positive SST anomalies along the coasts of Ecuador a... Abstract Ship observations of sea surface temperature (SST), sea level pressure and surface wind, and satellite measurements of outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) (an indicator of deep tropical convection) are used to describe the large-scale atmospheric circulation over the tropical Pacific during composite warm and cold episodes. Results are based on linear regression analysis between the circulation parameters and an index of SST in the tropical Pacific during the period 1946–85 (1974–89 for OLR). Warm episodes along the Peru coast (i.e., El Niño events) and basin-wide warmings associated with the Southern Oscillation are examined separately. Charts of the total as well as anomalous fields of SST, sea level pressure, surface wind and OLR for both warm and cold episodes are presented. SST and surface wind anomalies associated with warm episodes are consistent with the results of Rasmusson and Carpenter (1982). El Niño events are characterized by strong positive SST anomalies along the coasts of Ecuador a...