I am a tree hugger (studied forestry in college), but I don't believe in global warming yet. I do believe that man can and will alter the climate, but effects are unknown over time. That's for another discussion.

>>steve, i need to get my thinking straight. SOI telegraphed the mean bermuda ridge strength somewhat, if i remember correctly. also there was something about how it altered the sst trends in the equatorial pacific. wasn't it negative SOI meant westerly flow, positive SOI meant easterly flow? and didn't westerly mean trend to warming ENSO? gotta help me out here.. i understood it at one time..

The SOI can point to several different global climactic issues. The ones you listed are valid as well as it can predict amplifcation in the eastern USA, it can portend development in the WPAC. It clues you in to El Nino/La Nina conditions. It shows pulses of heat heading east across the Pacific. It's one of those indexes that points to many different things depending on the season, values, other global conditions, etc.

Steve