El Niño and La Niña: Understanding the ENSO Cycle
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Questions and Answers

What do the names El Niño and La Niña translate to in Spanish?

  • Big boy and big girl
  • Old boy and old girl
  • Little boy and little girl (correct)
  • Father and mother
  • What is the typical duration of an El Niño or La Niña episode?

  • About 9 months to 2 years (correct)
  • 5 to 10 years
  • Less than 3 months
  • 3 to 5 years
  • When do El Niño and La Niña episodes typically form?

  • Between June and August (correct)
  • Between March and May
  • Between September and November
  • Between December and February
  • What happens to the winds along the equator in the Pacific during an El Niño event?

    <p>They blow weaker than normal</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the result of the winds blowing from east to west in the Pacific Ocean?

    <p>The ocean temperature becomes cooler</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How often do El Niño and La Niña episodes occur?

    <p>Every 3-5 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which phase of the ENSO cycle occurs more frequently?

    <p>El Niño</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the winds as the water in the Pacific Ocean gets warmer?

    <p>They weaken</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of waves are created by a large El Niño event?

    <p>Rossby waves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What brings enough cool water to cancel out the warming from an El Niño event?

    <p>Kelvin waves</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What often follows an El Niño event?

    <p>A La Niña event</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What happens to the weather patterns in the Southwest U.S. during a La Niña winter?

    <p>They become drier</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one of the effects of El Niño on Australia?

    <p>Drought</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why is predicting El Niño and La Niña events important?

    <p>To help people plan and prepare for weather changes</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be a result of a La Niña event in the Northwest U.S.?

    <p>Wetter conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    El Niño and La Niña

    • El Niño and La Niña refer to abnormally warm and cool ocean temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific
    • El Niño is the warm phase of the ENSO cycle, while La Niña is the cold phase
    • They collectively make up the ENSO cycle, which stands for El Niño-Southern Oscillation cycle
    • ENSO cycles occur naturally every 3-5 years, with El Niño happening more often than La Niña

    Causes of ENSO Cycles

    • Normally, winds along the equator in the Pacific blow from east to west, pushing warm surface waters along
    • During an El Niño event, these winds are weaker, leaving warmer water in the eastern part of the Pacific
    • This creates a self-perpetuating cycle, where warmer water weakens winds, leading to more warm water and so on

    Stopping the Cycle

    • As El Niño grows, it creates Rossby waves, similar to tidal waves, moving slowly towards land
    • When Rossby waves reach shore, they bounce back as Kelvin waves, bringing cool water that cancels out the warming

    Effects on Land

    • El Niño and La Niña have opposite effects on weather patterns on land
    • La Niña brings drier conditions in the Southwest, wetter conditions in the Northwest, and cold conditions in the Northeast
    • El Niño brings wetter conditions in the Southwest, drier conditions in the Northwest, and stormy, snowy weather in the Northeast
    • Other regions, such as Australia and Indonesia, are also affected by ENSO cycles

    Prediction and Importance

    • Scientists use tools to predict El Niño and La Niña events, which is important for planning and preparation
    • Predicting the effects of ENSO cycles can help prevent loss of lives, municipal funds, crops, and livelihoods

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    Description

    Test your knowledge about El Niño and La Niña, the warm and cold phases of the ENSO cycle, which affects ocean temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific. Learn about the natural cycle and its impact on climate.

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