El Nino La Nina
What is El Niño?
A periodic climate phenomenon marked by the warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.
What are the key atmospheric changes during an El Niño event?
El Niño causes a weakening of the trade winds and changes in ocean currents.
What impacts does El Niño have on global weather?
El Niño can cause extreme weather such as floods, droughts, and heatwaves in various regions.
What causes the warming in the central and eastern Pacific during an El Niño event?
The warming is caused by a weakening or reversal of the trade winds, which allows warm water to accumulate in the eastern Pacific.
What oceanic region is known for being the origin of the warm waters during an El Niño event?
The warm waters originate in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.
What is La Niña?
La Niña is the counterpart to El Niño, characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific.
What role does the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) play in ENSO?
The PDO influences the intensity and frequency of El Niño and La Niña events over decades.
How does ENSO affect marine life?
ENSO affects marine life by altering sea temperatures, currents, and the availability of nutrients, which can harm ecosystems.
What happens to the trade winds during El Niño?
The trade winds weaken or sometimes reverse direction during El Niño.
What are the typical atmospheric conditions in the Pacific during a La Niña event?
During La Niña, the Pacific experiences stronger trade winds and cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures.
How does ENSO affect the jet stream?
ENSO can shift the position of the jet stream, leading to altered weather patterns across continents.
What regions are most affected by El Niño?
El Niño most strongly affects the Pacific and Indian Oceans, the United States, South America, and Southeast Asia.
How does ENSO impact wildfires?
El Niño can increase wildfire risk in areas prone to drought, like parts of Australia and the western U.S.
How does El Niño affect the Indian Ocean?
El Niño can increase rainfall in parts of the Indian Ocean, impacting regions like India and Southeast Asia.
How does El Niño influence the monsoon season in India?
El Niño can delay or weaken the monsoon season in India, leading to droughts or water shortages.
How often does an El Niño event occur?
El Niño typically occurs every 2 to 7 years.
What are the effects of El Niño on tropical storms?
El Niño tends to suppress hurricane and tropical storm formation in the Atlantic Ocean but increases storm activity in the Pacific.
What are the long-term effects of El Niño?
Long-term effects of El Niño include altered ecosystems, economic losses, and disruptions to the food chain.
How can El Niño influence winter weather in North America?
El Niño can cause milder winters in the northern U.S. and Canada, while bringing wetter conditions to the southern U.S.
What is the role of atmospheric pressure in the Southern Oscillation?
The Southern Oscillation refers to changes in atmospheric pressure patterns between the western and eastern Pacific.
What is the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI)?
The Southern Oscillation Index measures the difference in air pressure between Tahiti and Darwin, Australia, indicating the strength of the ENSO.
How does El Niño influence agriculture?
El Niño can disrupt agricultural patterns, causing crop failures in some regions due to droughts or excessive rainfall.
What monitoring tools are used to predict ENSO events?
Satellite data, ocean buoys, and climate models are used to monitor sea surface temperatures, atmospheric pressure, and other indicators to predict ENSO.
What is the relationship between ENSO and the Walker Circulation?
ENSO disrupts the Walker Circulation, which normally pushes warm water westward, affecting ocean currents and atmospheric conditions.
How do changes in sea surface temperatures influence the ENSO?
Changes in sea surface temperatures influence atmospheric pressure, ocean currents, and weather patterns, triggering either El Niño or La Niña.