  Different to classical theories which emphasize east--west feedback along the
equator, data analyses via the extreme-point symmetric mode decomposition
(ESMD) method support a new viewpoint that the El Ni\~{n}o--Southern
Oscillation (ENSO) cycle is horizontally dependent, rather than vertically
dependent. The consistency between the ocean current changes and sea-surface
temperature anomalies results in a current-generating mechanism for El Ni\~{n}o
and La Ni\~{n}a events. The corresponding new findings are as follows: (1) The
appearance of the Central Equatorial Countercurrent (CECC) and the enhancement
of the North Equatorial Countercurrent (NECC) are primary causes for the
occurrences of positive anomalies in the central and eastern Pacific,
respectively. (2) In addition to the contribution from the CECC, initiations of
the eastern and central Pacific types of El Ni\~{n}o events are mainly caused
by the southward transport of warm water from the high-temperature sea-area off
Central America, and from the eastern low-speed gap of the NECC, respectively.
(3) The northern and southern branches of the South Equatorial Current
contribute to the negative anomalies in the eastern and central Pacific,
respectively. Particularly, the later transfers cold water from the southeast
to the central equatorial Pacific in a direct way, and this implies the crack
of the ENSO-asymmetry problem.
