14 FEB 97 -- SST Increases off Peru/Ecuador Hotspots are continuing to expand off the coasts of Peru and Ecuador toward the Galapagos. The SST anomalies have taken a dramatic turn toward higher values for the past week to 10 days. NOAA/NWS/CAC folks say this is in direct response to a large Kelvin wave that moved across the tropical Pacific and has just now reached the SA coast. We will be watching this area over the next few weeks to see if these increases in SST are heralding an El Nino of 1997. Also note the much cooler conditions over most of the S. Atlantic. AES