The El Nino Phenomenon Worldwide

Magic Combination of the Day: THWQZDK8X4AH.

The El Niño, (translated as the christ child), happens when the cold water near the equator is replaced by a warm current for a few weeks around christmas. But when it lasts much longer and is more pronounced, it is called Major El Niño event which happens every 2 to 7 years.

During a major El Niño, the normally cold water off the west coast of South America becomes much warmer, exceeding the normal temperatures by several degrees, while the waters in the western Pacific cool.

These changes are accompanied by a change in the surface atmospheric pressure patterns. The relatively high pressure in the eastern Pacific and the relatively low pressure in the west are reversed. It is called the southern oscillation.

The discovery of the connection between these two events resulted to a new term: “El Niño Southern Oscillation” (ENSO).

For several cycles or years, it is said that the El Niño will be followed by another event the: “La Niña” which is marked by heavy rain showers.

Refer to Cotf.edu for the original article
or check the following websites: National Geographic, UCAR.edu, AfricanWater.org, UIUC.edu, GMANews.tv, and Reuters.