4.9 El Niño and La Niña
2 min read•january 1, 2023
Cody Williams
Cody Williams
El Niño
An is a warming of the Pacific Ocean between South America and Papua New Guinea (just north of Australia, an island in the Southwest Pacific). This occurs when the trade winds in that region weaken, which causes the west coast of South America to experience warmer waters. This effect also allows the to move deeper. This layer of the ocean represents a shallow depth at which a lot of heat is lost. By moving deeper, this demonstrates that the has receded into the depths and given rise to more warm ocean. This is shown in the image below. events cause higher precipitation in drier climates on the West Coast but create colder winters in the southeastern US.
La Niña
When a occurs, it is a cooling of the Pacific Ocean between Papua New Guinea and South America, essentially the opposite of an . The formation of a begins when the trade winds get stronger, which pushes warm coastal water further and further away from the South American coastline. Deeper and colder water from the ocean will rise, which is called . This means that the has instead moved up, creating less room for warm ocean.
Instead of generally rising temperatures, we see cooler temperatures as well as wet conditions. However, in the southeastern US, we see the opposite, warmer and drier conditions.
Greater Environmental Impacts
An can have impacts that are shown around the world. The rapid change in climate may cause some species to suffer or require relocation due to their niche not allowing for extremely warm or cold environments. Additionally, seasons for birds may change entirely.
On a more global scale, the decreases and it is unable to absorb as much energy as needed, which in turn warms the planet. As for the weather, temperature changes will affect precipitations and contribute to either or .
🎥 Watch: AP Environmental Science - Earth's Seasons and Climate
Key Terms to Review (9)
Climate Change
: Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns on a global scale. It is primarily caused by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, leading to an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.Drought
: Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low precipitation, resulting in water scarcity and dry conditions. It can have severe impacts on agriculture, ecosystems, water supplies, and human activities that depend on water.El Niño
: El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can cause significant changes in weather patterns worldwide.Flooding
: Flooding occurs when an area becomes submerged in water due to excessive rainfall, melting snow, dam failure, or other factors. It can lead to property damage, displacement of people and animals, contamination of water sources, and disruption of ecosystems.La Niña
: La Niña is a climate pattern that occurs when the surface waters of the Pacific Ocean become unusually cool, leading to changes in weather patterns around the world.Migration
: Migration refers to the movement of individuals or populations from one place to another, often driven by factors such as changes in environmental conditions, availability of resources, or the need for breeding grounds.Ocean Heat Capacity
: Ocean heat capacity refers to how much heat energy can be absorbed by seawater without significantly changing its temperature. The high heat capacity of oceans helps regulate Earth's climate by absorbing and storing large amounts of heat.Thermocline
: The thermocline is a layer within large bodies of water where there is a rapid change in temperature with depth. It acts as a barrier that separates warmer surface waters from colder deep waters.Upwelling
: Upwelling is the process in which cold, nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths rises to the surface. This brings nutrients to the surface, supporting the growth of phytoplankton and attracting marine life.4.9 El Niño and La Niña
2 min read•january 1, 2023
Cody Williams
Cody Williams
El Niño
An is a warming of the Pacific Ocean between South America and Papua New Guinea (just north of Australia, an island in the Southwest Pacific). This occurs when the trade winds in that region weaken, which causes the west coast of South America to experience warmer waters. This effect also allows the to move deeper. This layer of the ocean represents a shallow depth at which a lot of heat is lost. By moving deeper, this demonstrates that the has receded into the depths and given rise to more warm ocean. This is shown in the image below. events cause higher precipitation in drier climates on the West Coast but create colder winters in the southeastern US.
La Niña
When a occurs, it is a cooling of the Pacific Ocean between Papua New Guinea and South America, essentially the opposite of an . The formation of a begins when the trade winds get stronger, which pushes warm coastal water further and further away from the South American coastline. Deeper and colder water from the ocean will rise, which is called . This means that the has instead moved up, creating less room for warm ocean.
Instead of generally rising temperatures, we see cooler temperatures as well as wet conditions. However, in the southeastern US, we see the opposite, warmer and drier conditions.
Greater Environmental Impacts
An can have impacts that are shown around the world. The rapid change in climate may cause some species to suffer or require relocation due to their niche not allowing for extremely warm or cold environments. Additionally, seasons for birds may change entirely.
On a more global scale, the decreases and it is unable to absorb as much energy as needed, which in turn warms the planet. As for the weather, temperature changes will affect precipitations and contribute to either or .
🎥 Watch: AP Environmental Science - Earth's Seasons and Climate
Key Terms to Review (9)
Climate Change
: Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns on a global scale. It is primarily caused by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels and deforestation, leading to an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere.Drought
: Drought is a prolonged period of abnormally low precipitation, resulting in water scarcity and dry conditions. It can have severe impacts on agriculture, ecosystems, water supplies, and human activities that depend on water.El Niño
: El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can cause significant changes in weather patterns worldwide.Flooding
: Flooding occurs when an area becomes submerged in water due to excessive rainfall, melting snow, dam failure, or other factors. It can lead to property damage, displacement of people and animals, contamination of water sources, and disruption of ecosystems.La Niña
: La Niña is a climate pattern that occurs when the surface waters of the Pacific Ocean become unusually cool, leading to changes in weather patterns around the world.Migration
: Migration refers to the movement of individuals or populations from one place to another, often driven by factors such as changes in environmental conditions, availability of resources, or the need for breeding grounds.Ocean Heat Capacity
: Ocean heat capacity refers to how much heat energy can be absorbed by seawater without significantly changing its temperature. The high heat capacity of oceans helps regulate Earth's climate by absorbing and storing large amounts of heat.Thermocline
: The thermocline is a layer within large bodies of water where there is a rapid change in temperature with depth. It acts as a barrier that separates warmer surface waters from colder deep waters.Upwelling
: Upwelling is the process in which cold, nutrient-rich water from the ocean depths rises to the surface. This brings nutrients to the surface, supporting the growth of phytoplankton and attracting marine life.
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