Cyclical Climatic Events
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16 Terms
What is the name of the natural climate phenomenon that El Niño is a part of?
The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
What is El Niño?
The warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), a natural climate pattern that affects global weather and climate
When is an El Niño event officially declared?
When sea surface temperatures in the tropical eastern Pacific (off the west coast of S.America) rise to at least 0.5°C above the long-term average.
In normal conditions, in which directions is the surface water in the Pacific cooler and warmer?
Cooler in the east
Warmer in the west
What are trade winds?
Prevailing winds that blow consistently in a specific direction
In what direction do the trade winds tend to blow?
East to west
During El Niño events, what happens to these winds, and what happens as a result?
During El Niño, these winds weaken or reverse, sending warm surface water eastwards instead, meaning drier conditions on the Eastern side of Australia and more intense wildfires there
What is the opposite of El Niño?
La Niña
What happens to global temperatures during El Niño and La Niña events?
Rise during El Niño
Fall during La Niña
Which are more common? El Niño or La Niña?
El Niño
What effect does El Niño have on tropical storms?
There are generally more tropical storms in the tropical Pacific during El Niño, but fewer in the tropical Atlantic. During La Niña, the reverse is typically true.
What effect does El Niño have on CO2 levels? Why?
CO2 levels in the atmosphere increase during El Niño events, possibly as a result of warmer and drier conditions in tropical regions.
If plants grow less quickly due to drought, they absorb less CO2, while more wildfires in places like South Asia mean more CO2 is released.
What is the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD)?
A climate phenomenon characterised by temperature differences between the western and eastern Indian Ocean
Positive IOD
Cooler in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean and warmer in the tropical western Indian Ocean
Negative IOD
Warmer in the tropical eastern Indian Ocean and cooler in the tropical western Indian Ocean
Why does colder ocean mean more wildfires?
Colder ocean = less evaporation = less humidity and available moisture to convert into rain clouds = less rainfall = more drought and wildfires