ENSOENSOEl Nino El Nino // La Nina La Nina
episodes of ocean warming and coolingepisodes of ocean warming and cooling
NORMAL ConditionsNORMAL ConditionsTrade WindsTrade WindsCool water pools near S.America,Cool water pools near S.America,Warm water pools near AustraliaWarm water pools near Australia
How are How are “El Ni“El Niñño”o” conditions conditions different than normal?different than normal?
Ocean currents reverseOcean currents reverseWarm water pools near S.AmericaWarm water pools near S.AmericaCool water pools near AustraliaCool water pools near Australia
El Nino Warning SystemEl Nino Warning System
• Sea Surface Temperature
•Wind Speed/Direction
•Ocean Current Direction
Global Effects of El NinoGlobal Effects of El Nino
Floods/mudslides in S. AmericaFloods/mudslides in S. AmericaDroughts in Australia/Indonesia Droughts in Australia/Indonesia (cooler waters (cooler waters
create more stable atmos. and less rain)create more stable atmos. and less rain)
Termination of the coastal upwelling along S. Termination of the coastal upwelling along S. America America (hurts fisheries)(hurts fisheries)
El Nino’s effect on the United States
Jet Stream is moved north
El Nino’s effect on the United States
Warmer winters in N states
Wet/colderWet/colder winters in S states
Weak hurricane system
““LA NINA”LA NINA”Think of La Nina as a strengthened version Think of La Nina as a strengthened version
of “Normal”of “Normal”
Trade Winds are Trade Winds are extremely strongextremely strong
Very cold water pools near S.America, very Very cold water pools near S.America, very warm water pools near Australiawarm water pools near Australia
Global Effects of La NinaGlobal Effects of La Nina
Heavy rains in the western Heavy rains in the western PacificPacific
Strong coastal upwellings Strong coastal upwellings along S. Americaalong S. America
Extreme drought along S. Extreme drought along S. America’s Pacific coastline.America’s Pacific coastline.
Colder than normal wintersColder than normal winters Increased snowfallIncreased snowfall Midwest gets more precip. than Midwest gets more precip. than
normalnormal
La Nina’s effect on the La Nina’s effect on the U.S.U.S.
Comparison of surface tempsComparison of surface temps
El Nino
Normal
La Nina
El NinoEl Nino
Normal ConditionsNormal Conditions
La NinaLa Nina
El Nino or La Nina?El Nino or La Nina?
Normal (Nov 2001)
NORMAL, EL NINO, OR LA NINA?
Helpful WebsitesHelpful Websites
TAO ~ Tropical Atmosphere Ocean projectTAO ~ Tropical Atmosphere Ocean project
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/index.shtmlhttp://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/index.shtml The TAO StoryThe TAO Story
http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/proj_over/http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/proj_over/flash/mainDOC.htmlflash/mainDOC.html
EL NINOEL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATIONSOUTHERN OSCILLATION