Southern Oscillation” “El Niño - Southern Oscillation” Outline: What is El Nino? How does it work? What affect does El Niño have on California?
What is El Niño? El Niño is: El Niño occurs: The name, “El Niño” (means ‘boy child’ in Spanish) as it often occurs around Christmas time.
What is El Niño? El Niño is: El Niño occurs: The name, “El Niño” (means ‘boy child’ in Spanish) as it often occurs around Christmas time. a warming of the equatorial eastern Pacific Ocean about about once every 2 to 7 years
Normal Conditions
El Niño Conditions
‘Normal’ conditions (sea surface temps)
El Niño (sea surface temps)
How does El Niño work? El Niño is a coupled ocean-atmosphere process It involves: _____________ of the trade winds __________of the eastern equatorial Pacific _______ movement of the heavy rain region _________ pressure in the west and reduced pressure in the east
How does El Niño work? El Niño is a coupled ocean-atmosphere process It involves: _____________ of the trade winds __________of the eastern equatorial Pacific _______ movement of the heavy rain region _________ pressure in the west and reduced pressure in the east Weakening Warming Eastward Increased
Normal conditions: warm water and rain in the west Pacific El Niño conditions: warm water and rain in the central Pacific
ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) The Southern Oscillation: is the part of El Niño The Southern Oscillation Index is the pressure difference between Tahiti and Darwin: During El Niño, the pressure is _______ in the west and _______ in the east During El Nino, the Southern Oscillation Index is (positive/negative).
ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) The Southern Oscillation: is the part of El Niño The Southern Oscillation Index is the pressure difference between Tahiti and Darwin, During El Niño, the pressure is _______ in the west and _______ in the east During El Nino, the Southern Oscillation Index is (positive/negative). atmospheric Pressure(Tahiti) – Pressure(Darwin) higher lower
Southern Oscillation Index
How does El Niño affect the other parts of the globe http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tg/wninogrf/wninogrf.htm May change ‘normal’ storm tracks i.e. Wetter in California Some areas flood, other areas have drought
How does El Niño affect the other parts of the globe http://www.usatoday.com/weather/tg/wninogrf/wninogrf.htm May change ‘normal’ storm tracks i.e. Warmer and drier in pacific northwest Wetter in California Wetter over Southern States Some areas flood, other areas have drought
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El Niño
El Nino… …_________________________________
El Niño… …is an important modifier of local climates …may change global wind patterns …can cause floods or drought …is NOT a storm!!! …is pretty fascinating!!!