El Nino and La Nina Flashcards
Neutral Period
Easterly winds travel from east to west near the equator.
Warm water from the tropics is pushed across the Pacific Ocean, towards Asia and Australia.
The warm water near Asia and Australia evaporates to form clouds and rain.
El Nino
El Niño causes sea temperatures in the western Pacific Ocean to become cooler than normal.
The easterly winds weaken.
The warm ocean water stays closer to South America and the oceans around Australia cool.
Less moisture enters the atmosphere near Australia which results in drier winters and often drought.
La Nina
La Niña causes sea temperatures in the western Pacific Ocean to become warmer than normal.
Easterly winds are stronger.
This pushes more warm water towards Asia and Australia.
More moisture enters the atmosphere near Australia, which can bring widespread rain and flooding to Australia.
