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Jan 18, 2016 · El Niño (the warm phase) and La Niña (the cool phase) lead to significant differences from the average ocean temperatures, winds, surface pressure, and rainfall across parts of the tropical Pacific. Neutral indicates that conditions are near their long-term average.
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El Niño and La Niña are two opposing climate patterns that break these normal conditions. Scientists call these phenomena the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. El Niño and La Niña can both have global impacts on weather, wildfires, ecosystems, and economies. Episodes of El Niño and La Niña typically last nine to 12 months, but ...
Jul 10, 2024 · El Niño and La Niña are weather phenomena caused by the movement of warm and cold water in the Pacific Ocean. They affect global weather patterns and climate, but in opposite ways. Learn how they are formed, how they impact the weather, and how they differ.
- How Do El Niño and La Niña Affect The Weather?
- What Happens During An El Niño?
- What Happens During A La Niña?
- Why Are El Niño and La Niña Important?
- Learn More About Seasonal Weather Patterns
The surface of the ocean warms and cools intermittently as it interacts with the strength of the trade winds, which blow from east to west in normal conditions. As the ocean surface temperature changes in response to atmospheric conditions, it modifies rainfall patterns. It’s a bit of a scientific dance between ocean and atmosphere, with the opposi...
When warm water builds up along the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, an El Niño occurs. This increases moisture rising in the air, resulting in more rainstorms. In the US, winter temperatures tend to be warmer than normal in the Northwest with decreased rainfall, while the Southeast experiences wetter-than-average conditions. For example...
Conversely, when cool water builds up along the same region, a La Niña occurs with the opposite impact. In the US, winter temperatures tend to be cooler than average in the Northwest and warmer than average in the Southeast. In 1988, the unusually cool water caused the atmosphere to cool in response. As less water evaporated, the air became dryer, ...
Together, El Niño and La Niña are part of a natural cycle that can significantly impact not only global weather, climate, and ocean conditions but also food production, human health, and water supply. These systems typically last about one to two years, with the cycle alternating every three to seven years. As we near the tail-end of multiple El Ni...
Get a closer look at how these weather patterns work by watching a few helpful videos from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). In particular, check out El Niño and La Niña Explained and Observing El Niño.
Apr 16, 2024 · El Niño is part of the natural climate phenomenon called the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). It has two opposite states: El Niño and La Niña, both of which significantly alter global...
Jul 18, 2023 · In El Niño, because the warm water stays in the eastern Pacific, the convection occurs there. In La Niña, the eastern Pacific stays colder, and the convection occurs much farther to the west.
In Spanish, El Niño means The Little Boy, or Christ Child, and La Niña means The Little Girl. While their frequency can be quite irregular, El Niño and La Niña events occur on average every two to seven years.
