High resolution experiments with the operational ECMWF model starting from observed data wereused to test the impact of the 1982/83 E1 Nino sea surface temperature anomaly on the zonal mean me-ridional circulation and transfer properties of the atmosphere. The increased sea surface temperature in the Eastern Pacific Ocean along the Equator amplifies theHadley circulation. This enhances the convergence of moisture and sensible heat towards the tropics, induc-ing positive feedback between tropical diabatic heating and direct mean meridional circulation. The am-plification of the Hadley circulation also results in an equatorward extension of the mid-latitude wester-lies. Equatorial SST anomaly makes the zonal mean eddy transfer properties in the winter hemisphereundergo substantial changes, and the maxima of transfer of heat and momentum are all shifted to highlatitudes. An extra indirect meridional circulation is thereby forced in high latitudes in the northern hem-ispheric winter. It seems that in a time High resolution experiments with the operational ECMWF model starting from observed data wereused to test the impact of the 1982/83 E1 Nino sea surface temperature anomaly on the zonal mean me-ridional circulation and transfer properties of the atmosphere. The increased sea surface temperature in the This enhances the convergence of moisture and sensible heat towards the tropics, induc-ing positive feedback between tropical diabatic heating and direct mean meridional circulation. The am-plification of the Hadley circulation also results in an equatorward extension of the mid-latitude wester-lies. Equatorial SST anomaly makes the zonal mean eddy transfer properties in the winter hemisphereundergo substantial changes, and the maxima of transfer of heat and momentum are all shifted to highlatitudes. An extra indirect meridional circulation is forced in high latitudes in the northern hem-ispheric winter. It se ems that in a time