El Niño And Its Effects On The Planet

Question: What is El Niño and what are its effects on the planet?

Answer: El Niño, or more completely, the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) refers to the phenomenon where the normal ocean/atmosphere circulation patterns in the South Pacific Ocean are disrupted. As they break down and even reverse, it results in higher than normal sea surface temperatures in the eastern South Pacific Ocean.

It changes atmospheric pressures with consequences for rainfall, wind patterns, sea surface temperatures and can sometimes have a positive, and sometimes a negative effect on those systems

Because this disruption, when it appears every few years, is usually strongest around Christmas time, South American fishermen (who are adversely affected by it) called it El Niño (Spanish for the Christ child).

Scientists are not yet certain of the causes underlying the phenomenon, but it is clear that there is a good connection with anomalous weather patterns around the world.

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Source: GCMD/NASA