ENSO El Nino La Nina episodes of ocean
- Slides: 20
ENSO El Nino / La Nina episodes of ocean warming and cooling
NORMAL Conditions ØTrade Winds ØCool water pools near S. America, ØWarm water pools near Australia
How are “El Niño” conditions different than normal? ØOcean currents reverse ØWarm water pools near S. America ØCool water pools near Australia
El Nino Warning System • Sea Surface Temperature • Wind Speed/Direction • Ocean Current Direction
Global Effects of El Nino Ø Floods/mudslides in S. America Ø Droughts in Australia/Indonesia (cooler waters create more stable atmos. and less rain) Ø Termination of the coastal upwelling along S. America (hurts fisheries)
El Nino’s effect on the United States Ø Jet Stream is moved north
El Nino’s effect on the United States ØWarmer winters in N states Ø Wet/colder winters in S states Ø Weak hurricane system
“LA NINA” ØThink of La Nina as a strengthened version of “Normal” ØTrade Winds are extremely strong ØVery cold water pools near S. America, very warm water pools near Australia
Global Effects of La Nina ØHeavy rains in the western Pacific ØStrong coastal upwellings along S. America ØExtreme drought along S. America’s Pacific coastline.
La Nina’s effect on the U. S. § Colder than normal winters § Increased snowfall § Midwest gets more precip. than normal
Comparison of surface temps El Nino Normal La Nina
El Nino
Normal Conditions
La Nina
El Nino or La Nina?
NORMAL, EL NINO, OR LA NINA? Normal (Nov 2001)
Helpful Websites § TAO ~ Tropical Atmosphere Ocean project http: //www. pmel. noaa. gov/tao/index. shtml § The TAO Story http: //www. pmel. noaa. gov/tao/proj_over/flash/ main. DOC. html
EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION