El Niño
Published on Nov 19, 2015
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PRESENTATION OUTLINE
El Niño is a natural occurrence in which The easterly trade winds are driven by a surface pressure pattern of higher pressure in the eastern Pacific and lower pressure in the west. When this pressure gradient weakens, so do the trade winds. The weakened trade winds allow warmer water from the western Pacific to surge eastward, so the sea level flattens out.
Photo by jeroen020
An El Niño situation occurs every three or four years or so, mainly in December, and is devastating to the fishing economies of Ecuador and Peru. Birds, sea lions and fishermen go hungry because there are not enough fish to go around. Also, torrential rainfall in the coastal zone frequently accompanies the offshore warming, causing devastating floods (as happened in 1982-1983). See below for a summary of costs associated with the 1982-1983 El Niño.
Typically takes place in th Eastern Pacific Ocean, coming and going every 2-7 years
Photo by Nouhailler
The most severe El Niño of the century occurred in the winter of 1982 and 1983. Disastrous effects and meteorological changes occurred around the world. Total damages were estimated at over $8 billion.
El Ninos result in agricultural losses approaching $2 billion, or nearly 1-2 percent of total crop output. In the 1997-98 El Nino, property losses were estimated at nearly $2.6 billion.
Scientists look for water temperature changes in Eastern Pacific Waters
Photo by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center
Some analysts estimate that nearly 25 percent of GDP, or $2.7 trillion, is either directly or indirectly impacted by weather and climate.
Scientists study satellite records to observe the temperatures of the surface of seas. They use buoys to measure the winds that blow along the surface of the sea. They may even use planes to go into a storm to track and record data. Scientists also look at living plants and animals, as well as things like current weather conditions, to find out more about El Nino.
Photo by NASA: 2Explore
