El Nino
El Nino A ocean/weather phenomenon that creates changes weather patterns. Traditional name , El Nino, comes from south America where the changes is most notable, and it happens around Christmas (if the changes happens that year!) True name now is ENSO , El Nino Southern Occilation.
To understand El Nino Understand Thermoclines Understand the link between hot ocean water, convection and rain!
1) thermocline
2) Connection between hot ocean water, convection & rain!
Typical Ocean currents (gyres)
Normal vs. El Nino Normal – strong trade winds El nino – trade winds slow down or stop
Normal Prentice Hall Textbook animation link
El Nino: El Nino Development
La Nina… think, el nino opposite! Prentice Hall Textbook animation link
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El Nino
El Nino / La Nina in the thermocline
Prediction of El Nino Satellites Ocean buoys Super computers provide data on tropical rainfall, wind, and ocean temperature patterns, as well as changes in conditions for hurricane formation. Ocean buoys help to monitor sea-surface and upper ocean temperatures. Super computers gather all of the weather data around the world and put it into useful formats used by scientists. Run models for future change
El Nino Years: The first signs of an El Niño are: Warm water spreads back from the west Pacific to the east Pacific Warm air rises near Peru (low pressure), causing rain in the Americas Decrease in air pressure over central and eastern Pacific Ocean Winds in the Pacific ocean weaken or stop all together! Net result is drought in the Asia and rainfall in the Americas.
La Nina Years: The first signs of an La Nina are: Warm water moves back to the west Pacific from the east Pacific Warm air rises near Asia (low pressure), causing rain in Indonesia and north Australia. Decrease in air pressure in Asia, Australia, etc Winds in the Pacific ocean increase dramatically! Net result is drought in the Americas and rainfall in Asia.
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