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Questions and Answers
What do the names El Niño and La Niña translate to in Spanish?
What is the typical duration of an El Niño or La Niña episode?
When do El Niño and La Niña episodes typically form?
What happens to the winds along the equator in the Pacific during an El Niño event?
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What is the result of the winds blowing from east to west in the Pacific Ocean?
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How often do El Niño and La Niña episodes occur?
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Which phase of the ENSO cycle occurs more frequently?
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What happens to the winds as the water in the Pacific Ocean gets warmer?
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What type of waves are created by a large El Niño event?
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What brings enough cool water to cancel out the warming from an El Niño event?
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What often follows an El Niño event?
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What happens to the weather patterns in the Southwest U.S. during a La Niña winter?
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What is one of the effects of El Niño on Australia?
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Why is predicting El Niño and La Niña events important?
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What can be a result of a La Niña event in the Northwest U.S.?
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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.
