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El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is an coupled ocean-atmosphere cycle that oscillates between its cold phase (La Nina) and warm phase (El Nino) every few years. Typically, the trade winds blow from west to east in the Tropical Pacific Ocean, and this allows cold water to be upwelled off the coast of South America. When these trade winds weaken or even reverse (this is the southern oscillation element - the atmospheric component), warmer water from the western Pacific is pushed eastward, suppressing the upwelling and greatly increasing the temperature of the water throughout the Tropical Pacific. La Nina, the cold phase, is just the opposite. It can be considered an enhanced "normal" situation where the trade winds are even stronger and even more cold water is upwelled, which is also able to move further west and cool the water somewhat throughout the Tropical Pacific.
It turns out that the atmospheric and oceanic conditions in this part of the world are particularly influential on the atmospheric conditions in much of the rest of the world. Droughts and flooding are the two most prominent manifestations of each phase, though which regions experience will vary.
Adrianna Wiegand
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoEl Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is an coupled ocean-atmosphere cycle that oscillates between its cold phase (La Nina) and warm phase (El Nino) every few years. Typically, the trade winds blow from west to east in the Tropical Pacific Ocean, and this allows cold water to be upwelled off the coast of South America. When these trade winds weaken or even reverse (this is the southern oscillation element - the atmospheric component), warmer water from the western Pacific is pushed eastward, suppressing the upwelling and greatly increasing the temperature of the water throughout the Tropical Pacific. La Nina, the cold phase, is just the opposite. It can be considered an enhanced "normal" situation where the trade winds are even stronger and even more cold water is upwelled, which is also able to move further west and cool the water somewhat throughout the Tropical Pacific.
It turns out that the atmospheric and oceanic conditions in this part of the world are particularly influential on the atmospheric conditions in much of the rest of the world. Droughts and flooding are the two most prominent manifestations of each phase, though which regions experience will vary.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago1 effect of the ENSO is climate variability.
Wiki User
∙ 15y agoEl Nino is a weather phenomena which tends to occur in tropical waters of the Pacific Ocean. It affects the region across the Pacific from New Guinea to South America.
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Is El nino caused by the change of currents?
In a way, yes. El Nino - which is the warm phase of the oscillation known as El Nino Southern Oscillation - begins to get going when the atmospheric circulation in the equatorial Pacific breaks down, which causes the prevailing Trade Winds from the east to weaken or reverse. Then, wind from the west pushes warmer water from the Western Pacific to the east and up against the coast of South America, thereby changing surface currents.
What effect does el nino have on Canada?
Absolutely none. El Nino is an ocean current (approximately 27 miles long) off the western coast of South America. It has little affect on any of the environment other than the immediate area around the current. What the media has lead the rest of the media watching world to believe is El Nino is actually the Southern Oscillation or climate change. Precision of language is important.
What is a occurrence in the eastern Pacific Ocean in which the surface-water temperature becomes unusually warm or cool?
It is called an El Niño event, and has weather implications for much of North America.
What is an el nino southern California?
The El Nino is an unusual warm ocean conditionswhich have amazing effects on weather patterns around the world.
What causes an EL NINO?
Enso results from dynamic and thermodynamic interactions. These interactions happen in the atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces, although specificallywhat causes ENSO is unclear. Aside from that, scientists believe air pressure changes and wind currents play a vital role in starting El Nino/ Southern Oscillation. Some researcher think greenhouse gases may play a role. Others say underwater activity; underwater earthquakes for example, cause El Nino.
What is an acronym for ENSO?
El Nino-Southern Oscillation
What acronym is an ENSO?
El Nino-Southern Oscillation
Is el nino a weather or phenomenon?
El Nino is the warm phase of El Nino Southern Oscillation, with La Nina being the cool phase. It could be considered a quasi-periodic weather phenomenon.
How can el nino be prevented?
The El Nino can not be prevented. The El Nino bounces from South America across the Pacific Ocean and then across the Indian ocean to Africa and then bounces back to South America. Another name for it is "The southern ocean oscillation."
Where does the El Nino cause drought?
El Nino does not cause droughts. El Nino is a 27 mile long ocean current off the western coast of South America. It has little effect on anything outside of its locality. It does or does not send warmer waters up the western cost of the western hemisphere, but has very little meteorological effect. What you may be reaching for is called the "Southern Oscillation." This is an atmospheric current that cycles every seven years (approximately). The Southern Oscillation has an affect on El Nino that can cause it to cycle into what is referred to as the La Nina cycle. The Southern Oscillation can affect weather patterns globally, but concentrates in the southern latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere. Somehow western media grabbed onto the term "El Nino" about fifteen years ago and began applying it to referrences to the Southern Oscillation, perhaps because it was sexier for the talking heads to rattle off a Spanish sounding term than the more mundane correct term.
What city do el nino occur in?
El Nino is a coupled ocean-atmosphere oscillation. It has effects on most cities in the world.
Is El nino caused by the change of currents?
In a way, yes. El Nino - which is the warm phase of the oscillation known as El Nino Southern Oscillation - begins to get going when the atmospheric circulation in the equatorial Pacific breaks down, which causes the prevailing Trade Winds from the east to weaken or reverse. Then, wind from the west pushes warmer water from the Western Pacific to the east and up against the coast of South America, thereby changing surface currents.
Can scientists prevent future EL NINO'S?
El Nino cannot be prevented. It is just an oscillation in the Pacific, and it is not such a massive natural disaster that most people thing it is.
What weather system might be occuring if the trade winds in the pacific are stronger than normal?
la Nina
What effect does el nino have on Canada?
Absolutely none. El Nino is an ocean current (approximately 27 miles long) off the western coast of South America. It has little affect on any of the environment other than the immediate area around the current. What the media has lead the rest of the media watching world to believe is El Nino is actually the Southern Oscillation or climate change. Precision of language is important.
What is a occurrence in the eastern Pacific Ocean in which the surface-water temperature becomes unusually warm or cool?
It is called an El Niño event, and has weather implications for much of North America.
What is an el nino southern California?
The El Nino is an unusual warm ocean conditionswhich have amazing effects on weather patterns around the world.
