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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.
What else can I help you with?
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.
Is the US currently in la Nina or el nino?
El Niño and La Niña (collectively called El Niño Southern Oscillation or ENSO) don't just affect the US. They affect the whole world. As of October 2013, the current condition is ENSO neutral, meaning we have neither El Niño nor La Niña, but are somewhere in between.
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.
Which weather phenomenon translate from the spanish for the little boy?
The weather phenomenon is known as El Nino.
When did la Nina and el nino occur at same time?
La Niña and El Niño occur at different times and are opposite phases of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. It is rare for them to occur at the same time, but it can happen during a transition period when one phase is weakening and the other is starting to strengthen. This transitional phase is known as ENSO neutral.
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.
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.
Does La Niña follow El Niña?
Yes, though it's an oscillation. So El Nino will occur and then weaken, and then you'll probably get a La Nina of some strength before shifting back into El Nino again. Sometimes it stays basically neutral for a while.
Is el nino responsible for are weird weather?
First, we are currently in the La Nina phase of this oscillation, which is influencing weather in many parts of the world. But Either side of this oscillation, weather El Nino or La Nina, cannot be blamed for any "weird" weather aside from certain locations in the world where its impact is strong. Further, as far as we know, this oscillation has existed for longer than humans have, so it is nothing new.
Is el nino a hurricane?
No, it is a global coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon. El Nino refers to the unusual warming of the tropical Pacific Ocean waters, while the Southern Oscillation (which is part of El Nino's full name) refers to the weakening of trade winds and shifting of low pressure in the Pacific. El Nino can be difficult to conceptualize because you can't easily see it as you would see a hurricane (from space) or tornado (from the ground). It is best seen on infrared satellite sensors, and even then many people would not know what they're looking at. Its consequences, however, can be much more impressive and tangible.
