Marine Bio: Climate and Climate Oscillations

What is climate?

It refers to weather properties that characterize a region over longer time scales (several years, decades or centuries)

What are climate oscillations?

They are predictable fluctuations in air pressure, wind systems, sea surface temps, or other weather features; not caused by humans

What is the climate variability record?

A record of temp over time, steadily increasing temp where de-trended shows oscillations

What is the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO)?

An example of climate fluctuation that can be exacerbated by human-induced climate change

What is El Nino?

The weakening of winds which drive surface water into tropical pacific to the west. The warm water just sits there and no upwelling occurs

What is La Nina?

A persistent version of the “normal” state where strong winds and upwelling in the eastern pacific occur