The period of oscillation is roughly 15–30 years.
Positive phases of the IPO are characterized by a warmer than average tropical Pacific and cooler than average northern Pacific.
Negative phases are characterized by an inversion of this pattern, with cool tropics and warm northern regions.
[1] The IPO had positive phases (southeastern tropical Pacific warm) from 1922 to 1946 and 1978 to 1998, and a negative phase between 1947 and 1976.
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