El Niño - Southern Oscillation

Writing 101

Abstract

In this paper, the effects of El Nino which is also known as ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation) will be discussed. El Niño is a phenomenon which causes irregular periodicity in climatic pattern that occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean approximately every five years. In the paper, the consequences and effects of El Niño around the globe and in the US have been discussed and in the end its benefits for future discussion has been discussed.

Table of Content

Thesis Statement4

Introduction4

Discussion5

In the absence of El-Nino:5

In the presence of El Nino:6

El Niño and its global consequences7

El Niño and its regional consequences (US)8

El-Nino and Global Warming9

Benefits of El Niño Prediction9

Conclusion11

References12

El Niño - Southern Oscillation

Thesis Statement

This paper aims to provide with the knowledge of El-Niño and its effects on the environment and humankind and how it develops within the particular region of the globe and its consequences will also be elaborated.

Introduction

El Niño means “the infant” in Spanish, and this name was originated during 1500 by the fishermen. Every few years, during the Christmas time, fishermen who lived in South America witnesses the warm water that came to their shore.

It is in the Pacific, off the coast of South America, marked by warmer water. It also alters the weather patterns not only in United States but also all around the world.

El Niño happens in the east-central tropical Pacific Ocean and the accepted warming or cooling of 0.9 °F is measured. It usually happened in 3 to 7 years irregular intervals. The warming and cooling of water occurs for seven to nine months and it is classified as El Niño and La Niña respectively.

When El Niño happens, the first signs observed are:

Rise in pressure over the Indonesia, Indian Ocean and Australia

Over Tahiti and the rest of the eastern and central Pacific Ocean observes

fall in the air pressure.

In the South Pacific, trade winds weaken or in case head east.

Near Peru, warm air arises, which causes rain the in Peruvian desert.

From Indian Ocean and the Pacific to the east Pacific, warm water

spreads. It also takes the rain with it.

In normal condition when El Niño conditions are not present, the trade wind blows across the tropical pacific towards the west, away from South America.

Whereas, during El Niño, in the western and central pacific, the trade wind relax. The South American surface water temperature warms up, because from below to cool the surface there is less upwelling of the cold water (Caviedes, C. 2001).

Discussion

El Nino is an opposite effect of La Nina; La Nina is characterized by the change in the Equatorial Pacific temperature and the unusual cold ocean temperature. El Nino is the oscillation (in the tropical Pacific) of the ocean atmosphere system and having consequences around the globe's weather.

In the absence of El-Nino:

In normal condition when El Niño conditions are not present, the trade wind blows across the tropical pacific towards the west, away from South America.

During this, in the west pacific, the wind piles up warm water so, the sea surface is about ...