El Niño
Article
El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation, a recurring pattern of ocean and atmospheric variability in the tropical Pacific. It is characterised by unusually warm surface water in the central or eastern equatorial Pacific and changes in tropical winds and pressure.
During normal conditions, trade winds push warm surface water westward and promote upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water near South America. During El Niño, the trade winds weaken, warm water spreads eastward, and upwelling is reduced.
These changes alter tropical rainfall and atmospheric circulation, producing effects that can extend around the world. Depending on the event and region, El Niño can influence drought, floods, tropical cyclones, winter temperatures, fisheries, and crop production.
El Niño events typically develop over several months and often peak near the end of the calendar year. Their strength, duration, and global effects vary, and no two events are identical.
Source details and credits
- Source / publisher: Wikipedia
- URL type: WWW
- Credits: Wikipedia
- URL: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Nin%CC%83o