El Nino and La Nina

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Climate Noun

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[klahy-mit]

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Climate

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The long-term average of weather conditions, including temperature and precipitation, in a particular area over many years.

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Example: This graph shows the climate of Manaus, Brazil, by plotting the average monthly temperature and rainfall, which are long-term weather patterns.

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Latitude Noun

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[lat-i-tood]

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Latitude

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The angular distance of a place north or south of the earth's equator, expressed in degrees, affecting solar energy received.

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Example: This diagram shows Earth with horizontal lines called lines of latitude, which measure distance north or south of the 0-degree line, the Equator.

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El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Noun

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[el neen-yoh suth-ern os-i-ley-shuhn]

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El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)

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A recurring climate pattern involving changes in the temperature of waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.

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Example: During an El Niño event, warm surface water moves east across the Pacific Ocean, causing weather changes like drought in Indonesia and heavy rain in South America.

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El Niño Noun

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[el neen-yoh]

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El Niño

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The warm phase of ENSO, characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific and weaker trade winds.

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Example: During El Niño, warm surface water moves east across the Pacific Ocean, causing drought in Indonesia and heavy rain and mudslides in South America.

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La Niña Noun

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[lah neen-yah]

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La Niña

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The cool phase of ENSO, characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the eastern Pacific and stronger trade winds.

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Example: During a La Niña winter, the jet stream shifts, bringing cooler, wetter weather to the Pacific Northwest and drier, warmer conditions to the southern U.S.

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Trade Winds Noun

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[treyd windz]

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Trade Winds

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Persistent east-to-west prevailing winds that flow in the Earth's equatorial region, driven by atmospheric convection currents.

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Example: This diagram shows the trade winds, which are steady winds that blow from the east towards the equator in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

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Upwelling Noun

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[uhp-wel-ing]

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Upwelling

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An oceanographic process in which deep, cold, and nutrient-rich water rises toward the surface, replacing warmer surface water.

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Example: Wind pushes surface water away from the coast, causing deeper, colder water to rise up and take its place.

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Jet Stream Noun

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[jet streem]

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Jet Stream

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Fast-flowing, narrow, meandering air currents in the atmosphere that can be influenced by changes in ocean temperatures.

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Example: This diagram shows the jet stream as a fast-moving river of air that separates colder northern air from warmer southern air over North America.

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Equator Noun

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[ih-kwey-ter]

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Equator

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An imaginary line at 0° latitude drawn around the Earth, dividing it into northern and southern hemispheres.

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Example: This diagram shows the Earth divided by the Equator, an imaginary line at 0° latitude, which is the warm region where El Niño develops.

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Convection Noun

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[kuhn-vek-shuhn]

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Convection

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The movement of heat through a fluid, where warmer, less dense material rises and cooler, denser material sinks.

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Example: The sun heats the land more quickly than the water, causing warm air to rise and cool air over the water to sink, creating a circular air flow.