Extended time series of satellite data now allow us to study ocean variations over several years. Today, the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO), North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) and El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) are well documented. The next step will be to predict these phenomena. To achieve this goal, we need to gain a closer understanding of how they might be interacting and how they are affected by other oceanic and atmospheric variations. Continued monitoring by a permanent series of ocean-observing satellites should yield vital clues.