El Nino VS La Nina Flashcards
What is El Nino?
El Nino is an unpredictable climate pattern that takes place every 3-7 years. During an El Nino, the waters near the pacific ocean become warmer than normal. These warm ocean currents also move further north than usual. This changes normal climate patterns. In South America, the rainfall increases. In Australia, there is drought. Changes in the United States include:
-More rain and warm temperatures
-Tropical fish move far north along the United States west coast
-The eastern part of the United States has warmer than normal winter temperatures.
What is a La Nina?
During a La Nina, The pacific Ocean near the equator gets colder than usual. The effects of a La Nina are opposite to those of El Nino. Central and South America may face severe droughts while Australia floods. The climate in the United States changes by:
-Drier than normal conditions
-in the Southwest in the late summer through the winter
-in the central plains in the fall
-in the Southeast in the winter
-Wetter than normal conditions in the pacific
-warmer than normal winter in the southeast
-colder than normal winter in the northwest
-a more active hurricane season in the Atlantic
