El Nina/La Nina

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What is La Niña?

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La Niña is a climate pattern characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which can influence global weather patterns.

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What is El Niño?

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El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, affecting global weather patterns.

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What does ENSO stand for?

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ENSO stands for El Niño/Southern Oscillation, a climate phenomenon that includes both El Niño and La Niña.

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How does La Niña affect rainfall in North Carolina during summer?

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La Niña could decrease rainfall in North Carolina during the summer.

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What is the effect of El Niño on the subtropical jet stream?

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El Niño causes the subtropical jet stream to bring cold, wet winter weather to the southeastern United States.

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What does TAO stand for in climate studies?

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TAO stands for Tropical Atmosphere/Ocean, a research program that studies the ocean-atmosphere interactions in the tropical Pacific.

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How does cold air above land interact with ocean air?

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Cold air above land sinks and can bring along cool, wet air from the sea.

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What are the typical weather patterns associated with La Niña?

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La Niña typically brings wetter conditions to the Pacific Northwest and drier conditions to the southern United States.

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What are the typical weather patterns associated with El Niño?

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El Niño typically brings wetter conditions to the southern United States and drier conditions to the Pacific Northwest.

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How do ocean temperatures influence global weather patterns?

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Ocean temperatures affect atmospheric circulation, which in turn influences weather patterns around the globe.