What causes rising surface temperatures of the Pacific Ocean?
The ocean absorbs most of the excess heat from greenhouse gas emissions, leading to rising ocean temperatures. Increasing ocean temperatures affect marine species and ecosystems.
What is the effect of the presence of El Nino in the western Pacific Ocean?
During an El Niño event, sea surface temperatures over the central and eastern Pacific become warmer than normal. The normal easterly trade winds weaken and sometimes, the winds will switch and blow from the west to the east!
Why do surface water temperatures on the west coast of South America rise during El Nino?
During an El Niño event, westward-blowing trade winds weaken along the Equator. These changes in air pressure and wind speed cause warm surface water to move eastward along the Equator, from the western Pacific to the coast of northern South America. Convection above warmer surface waters bring increased precipitation.
What causes warm water to collect in the western portion of the Pacific during normal conditions?
There are occasions when the trade winds that blow west across the tropical Pacific are stronger than normal leading to increased upwelling off South America and hence the lower than normal sea surface temperatures. These winds pile up warm surface water in the West Pacific.
Is 2020 an El Nino or La Nina year?
2020 stands out, following a winter where tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures were slightly warm, but not quite El Niño.
When was the last strong La Nina?
Recent years when La Niña Modoki events occurred include 1973–1974, 1975–1976, 1983–1984, 1988–1989, 1998–1999, 2000–2001, 2008–2009, 2010–2011, and 2016–2017. The recent discovery of ENSO Modoki has some scientists believing it to be linked to global warming. However, comprehensive satellite data go back only to 1979.
Will 2020 be a hot year?
2020 edged out 2016 by a very small amount, within the margin of error of the analysis, making the years effectively tied for the warmest year on record. “The last seven years have been the warmest seven years on record, typifying the ongoing and dramatic warming trend,” said GISS Director Gavin Schmidt.
Why is 2020 the hottest year?
Globally, 2020 was the hottest year on record, effectively tying 2016, the previous record. Overall, Earth’s average temperature has risen more than 2 degrees Fahrenheit since the 1880s. Temperatures are increasing due to human activities, specifically emissions of greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide and methane.
How hot did it get in 2020?
The average land and ocean surface temperature across the globe in 2020 was 1.76 degrees F (0.98 of a degree C) above average — just 0.04 of a degree F (0.02 of a degree C) cooler than the 2016 record.
What is the hottest month of the year 2020?
September 2020 was the warmest month on record worldwide, scientists with the Copernicus Climate Change Service announced. Arctic sea ice also plummeted to its second-lowest levels on record, scientists confirmed, as climate change takes an alarming toll on the region.