A study of the possible extended influence of the ENSO phenomenon

El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is well known to have a worldwide impact, in particular on streamflows. As an illustration, we found a good correlation (∼0.47, 5-month time delay) between the ENSO activity and the discharge of the main rivers in French Guiana. However, this calculation was made between climatic and hydrological processes at ‘isolated precise moments’. Using a new method of time series analysis, we considered the ENSO and Atlantic Ocean/river discharge correlation integrated over time. This method shows, with more than 99% confidence level, new possible delayed and combined influences between the phenomena (respectively ∼20 and 40 months for ENSO and Atlantic Ocean influences). To cite this article: C. Gaucherel, C. R. Geoscience 336 (2004).