La Niña and El Niño Effects

Mrs. Butler introduces El Nino and La Nina, explaining their characteristics and effects on global weather. El Nino involves warmer ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, leading to increased rainfall in some regions and droughts in others. La Nina is the opposite, with cooler ocean temperatures. The video discusses how NOAA tracks these phenomena and provides a mnemonic to remember El Nino. Current La Nina conditions are also explored.

What is the primary characteristic of El Niño?

• Increased snowfall

• Unusually cold ocean temperatures

• Unusually warm ocean temperatures

• Decreased humidity

Which region experiences increased rainfall during an El Niño event?

• Southern U.S.

• Northern Europe

• Western Australia

• Eastern Africa

What happens to the trade winds during an El Niño?

• They weaken and allow warm water to move east

• They remain unchanged

• They reverse direction

• They strengthen and move west

How does NOAA track El Niño conditions?

• Using satellite images

• Through weather balloons

• With buoys in the ocean

• By monitoring animal migration

What is a mnemonic to remember El Niño?

• A little girl with a snowflake

• A little boy with a Santa hat

• A fish with a thermometer

• A penguin with sunglasses

What is the opposite of El Niño?

• La Niña Plus

• El Niño Minus

• El Niño Plus

• La Niña

What characterizes La Niña?

• Unusually warm ocean temperatures

• Unusually cold ocean temperatures

• Increased volcanic activity

• Decreased ocean salinity

During La Niña, what weather conditions are expected in the southern U.S.?

• Snowy and cold

• Humid and stormy

• Warm and dry

• Cold and wet

What is the predicted duration of the current La Niña event?

• It will last through the summer

• It will last through the winter

• It will end in a month

• It will last for a decade

What is the expected impact of La Niña on snowfall in the northern U.S.?

• Complete absence of snow

• No change

• More than average

• Less than average