What are the causes and consequences of El Nino?
El Nino is essentially caused by the interaction between the surface layers of the tropical Pacific Ocean and the atmosphere over it. The water is warmer due to the trade winds reversing direction or becoming less intense. In contrast El Nino can also bring flooding and heavy rainfall in other areas.
What are two effects of El Nino?
Severe drought and associated food insecurity, flooding, rains, and temperature rises due to El Niño are causing a wide range of health problems, including disease outbreaks, malnutrition, heat stress and respiratory diseases. Regardless of El Niño and La Niña, WHO urges countries to prepare for all climate risks.
What is El Niño effect?
El Niño is a climate pattern that describes the unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. El Nino is the “warm phase” of a larger phenomenon called the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). El Niño events occur irregularly at two- to seven-year intervals.
What comes after an El Niño?
El Niño is often (but not always) followed by La Niña the following year, particularly if the El Niño is strong. During La Niña conditions, the easterly trade winds near the equator get even stronger than they usually are.
Does El Nino strengthen trade winds?
This warm pool expands to cover the tropics during El Niño, but during La Niña, the easterly trade winds strengthen and cold upwelling along the equator and the West coast of South America intensifies. Sea-surface temperatures along the equator can fall as much as 7 degrees F below normal.
How trade winds become weak?
The easterly trade winds are driven by a surface pressure pattern of higher pressure in the eastern Pacific and lower pressure in the west. When this pressure gradient weakens, so do the trade winds. The weakened trade winds allow warmer water from the western Pacific to surge eastward, so the sea level flattens out.
What is the relationship between El Nino and tornadoes?
El Niño conditions can affect more than just clouds and rainfall in certain locations. Scientists have discovered that increased lightning and even increased tornado activity can go along with El Niño. El Niño conditions affect more than just clouds and rainfall in certain locations.
What is the difference between El Nino and La Nina weather?
El Niño refers to the above-average sea-surface temperatures that periodically develop across the east-central equatorial Pacific. It represents the warm phase of the ENSO cycle. La Niña refers to the periodic cooling of sea-surface temperatures across the east-central equatorial Pacific.