El Niño - Science Term 2

El Niño flashcards for validation

How long does El Niño last?

6-12 Months

How long does a full cycle last?

4-7 years

What is El Niño?

When warm water from the Western Pacific near the equator flows eastward off coast of South America

Step 1 of El Niño?

Trade winds weaken or reverse

Step 2 of El Niño?

Warm waters from Western Pacific flows east, which is then heated by the sun, displacing cool water

Step 3 of El Niño?

Warm waters pools off west coast of South America

Step 4 of El Niño?

Trade winds bring warm moist air towards America. Walker cells break into smaller cells which causes increased evaporation and rainfall over the centre of the pacific ocean

Step 5 of El Niño?

Leeuwin current is blocked by cold water in the Western Pacific

Step 6 of El Niño?

Cold Peruvian Current is blocked by warm waters in the east of America

Effects on Eastern Australia

Droughts, fires, heatwaves, restricted agriculture, frequent fires

Effects on Western Australia

Leeuwin current is weaker and cooler leading to reduction in species relying on it for movement

Effects on America

More rain, good for some agriculture, prevents upwelling of cold nutrient leading to bad effects on commercial fishing and wildlife, die-off of larger fish