El Nino and La Nina

Front

What is El Niño?

Back

El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by the warming of surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which can disrupt normal weather patterns globally.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What is La Niña?

Back

La Niña is a climate pattern that occurs when the surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean are cooler than average, often leading to opposite weather effects compared to El Niño.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What are trade winds?

Back

Trade winds are steady winds that blow from east to west in the tropics, playing a crucial role in ocean currents and weather patterns.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What happens to trade winds during El Niño?

Back

During El Niño, trade winds weaken, allowing warm surface water to move eastward across the Pacific Ocean.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What happens to trade winds during La Niña?

Back

During La Niña, trade winds strengthen, pushing warm surface water further west in the Pacific Ocean.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What are the climate impacts of El Niño?

Back

El Niño can cause flooding in the Southern United States and warmer, drier conditions in the Pacific Northwest.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What are the climate impacts of La Niña?

Back

La Niña can lead to drought in the Southern United States and cooler temperatures, heavy rains, and flooding in the Pacific Northwest.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

How does El Niño affect global weather patterns?

Back

El Niño can disrupt normal weather patterns, leading to increased rainfall in some areas and droughts in others, affecting agriculture and water supply.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

How does La Niña affect global weather patterns?

Back

La Niña can enhance the normal weather patterns, often leading to wetter conditions in the western Pacific and drier conditions in the eastern Pacific.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What is the significance of the Pacific Ocean in El Niño and La Niña?

Back

The Pacific Ocean is the primary region where El Niño and La Niña occur, significantly influencing global climate and weather patterns.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6