 Abnormally high surface ocean temperatures off the coast of South America  Causes unusual weather patterns across the globe El Nino

Starts because the easterly trade winds weaken and allow the warm waters in the Western Pacific to move east toward South America This changes where the convection current occurs. Causing rain where it usually doesn't occur and drought where it usually rain s El Nino

El Nino Summer

El Nino Summary: The Trade Winds stop or reverse direction Warming of the water in the Pacific Oceans (near North and South American coast) Rain and flooding happen along the West Pacific Coast Lack of rain along Indonesia damage major rice crops Warm water disrupts the food chains of fish, birds and sea mammals due to lack of upwelling More tornadoes and thunderstorms in Southern US Fewer hurricanes in the Atlantic

 Abnormally low surface ocean temperatures off the coast of South America  Causes unusual weather patterns across the globe La Nina

La Nina Summary: The trade winds are stronger than normal Stronger cooling of the water in the Pacific near the coast of North and South America Extreme rainfall and monsoons near Indonesia due to increased warm waters Snow and rain along the U.S. coast Unusually cold weather in Alaska, and unusually warm weather in the rest of the US Droughts in the Southwest U.S. Higher than normal numbers of hurricanes in the Atlantic

Ocean currents move more slowly than winds. Oceans hold more heat than the atmosphere and land. Cold currents will cause nearby coastlines to be cooler. Warm currents will cause nearby coastlines to be warmer. Where do the cold currents come from? The warm currents? Ocean’s Effect on Climate