El Niño 101 | National Geographic

National Geographic

4 Dec 201502:51

Summary

TLDREl Niño, a significant weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean, occurs every two to seven years and causes a rise in sea surface temperatures, leading to global climate changes and natural disasters. Originating from its impact on South American fishermen, El Niño affects marine life, causing migrations due to blocked nutrient-rich upwelling. It brings increased storms and floods to the Americas and droughts to Southeast Asia and Australia. The 1997-98 El Niño was the most severe, causing extensive damage and loss of life. Scientists are now better equipped to predict these events, aiding communities in preparing for the drastic weather changes.

Takeaways

🌊 El Nino is a significant weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean that can trigger a range of climate changes and natural disasters globally.
🌡️ It is characterized by a warming of surface water temperatures, which can rise 0.5 degrees Celsius above the historic average for three consecutive months.
🌍 The effects of El Nino are widespread, impacting regions from Alaska to South America and beyond.
🐟 The phenomenon disrupts marine ecosystems by blocking the upwelling of nutrient-rich waters, affecting marine life and fisheries.
🌤️ El Nino is not a storm but a complex set of atmospheric and oceanic interactions that alter normal weather patterns.
🌪️ In the western United States, Central, and South America, El Nino can lead to increased storms, rainfall, floods, and vector-borne diseases.
🔥 Conversely, in Southeast Asia and Australia, El Nino can cause droughts, wildfires, and colder ocean temperatures.
📉 The 1997-98 El Nino was the most severe on record, causing extensive damage, estimated at 2100 deaths and $33 billion in damages.
🔍 Scientists have improved their ability to predict El Nino events, which aids in community preparedness and adaptation to its impacts.
⏱️ El Nino events typically occur every two to seven years, with varying degrees of intensity and geographical impact.

Q & A

What is El Nino and how does it differ from a typical storm?
-El Nino is a weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean, not a storm. It is characterized by a warming of surface water temperatures, leading to complex weather patterns.
How did El Nino get its name?
-South American fishermen in the 19th century named it 'El Nino', which means 'The Blessed Child' in Spanish, due to the warmer waters they observed during Christmas time.
What are the criteria for officially declaring an El Nino event?
-An El Nino event is officially declared when sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean rise by 0.5 degrees Celsius over their historic average for three consecutive months, and atmospheric conditions and rainfall patterns shift accordingly.
How often does an El Nino event typically occur?
-El Nino events take place approximately every two to seven years.
What happens to the trade winds and warm water during an El Nino event?
-During an El Nino event, the normal east to west trade winds over the Pacific weaken, causing warm water that usually travels westward to move eastward instead.
How does El Nino affect marine life and fisheries?
-El Nino causes warm water to push colder water downward, blocking the upwelling of nutrient-rich waters from the bottom. This leads to marine life migration, impacting animals that feed on them and causing difficulties for fisheries in Central and South America.
What are the most noticeable effects of El Nino on land?
-The most noticeable effects of El Nino on land include increased storms, rainfall, floods, loss of life and property, and the increase of vector-borne diseases like malaria in the western United States, Central, and South America.
How does El Nino impact Southeast Asia and Australia?
-In contrast to the effects in the Americas, Southeast Asia and Australia suffer from droughts, wildfires, and colder ocean waters during an El Nino event.
What was the impact of the 1997-98 El Nino, the largest recorded?
-The 1997-98 El Nino was blamed for approximately 2100 deaths and $33 billion in damages worldwide. It caused record flooding in Peru, storms in the Gulf Coast, flash flooding from California to Mississippi, and tornadoes in Florida.
How have scientists improved in predicting El Nino events?
-Scientists are now better able to predict El Nino events by monitoring sea surface temperatures and atmospheric conditions, which helps communities prepare for the changes in weather patterns and adapt to its repercussions.
What are the benefits of predicting El Nino events?
-Predicting El Nino events allows communities to better prepare for extreme weather conditions, potentially reducing the impact on life, property, and the environment.

Outlines

00:00

🌊 El Nino: The Phenomenon and Its Impact

El Nino is a significant weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean that occurs every two to seven years. It is characterized by a warming of surface water temperatures, which leads to complex weather patterns affecting regions from Alaska to South America. Originating from South American fishermen's observations of warmer waters during Christmas, 'El Nino' means 'The Blessed Child' in Spanish. Scientists declare an El Nino when sea surface temperatures rise 0.5 degrees Celsius over the historical average for three consecutive months, accompanied by shifts in atmospheric conditions and rainfall. This event disrupts the normal east-to-west trade winds, causing warm water to move eastward, which in turn affects marine life and leads to various consequences on land, such as increased storms, rainfall, floods, and vector-borne diseases in some areas, and droughts and wildfires in others. The most severe El Nino on record occurred in 1997-98, causing extensive damage and loss of life. Today, scientists are better equipped to predict El Nino events, allowing communities to prepare and adapt to its effects.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡El Nino

El Nino is a Spanish term meaning 'the little boy' or 'the Christ child,' referring to a climate phenomenon characterized by the warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. It is not a storm but a weather pattern that occurs every two to seven years, causing significant global climate changes and natural disasters. The video script explains how El Nino affects weather patterns, leading to increased storms, floods, and droughts in different regions, as well as impacting marine life and fisheries.

💡Climate Change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. In the context of the video, El Nino is a significant driver of climate change as it alters the normal patterns, leading to extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and storms. The video highlights how El Nino's impact is felt from Alaska to South America, demonstrating the far-reaching consequences of these changes.

💡Natural Disasters

Natural disasters are catastrophic events resulting from natural processes, such as earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods. The video script associates El Nino with an increased risk of natural disasters due to its influence on weather patterns. For example, it mentions increased storms, rainfall, floods, and even the emergence of vector-borne diseases like malaria in regions affected by El Nino.

💡Surface Water Temperature

Surface water temperature is a critical factor in understanding El Nino. The video explains that during an El Nino event, the surface water in the equatorial Pacific Ocean warms up, leading to complex weather patterns. This warming is significant because it disrupts the normal movement of ocean currents and affects marine ecosystems, as well as land weather patterns.

💡Trade Winds

Trade winds are steady, easterly winds that blow predominantly in the tropics. The video script mentions that during an El Nino event, the normal east-to-west trade winds over the Pacific Ocean weaken. This weakening allows warm water, which usually travels westward, to move eastward, contributing to the warming of surface waters and the onset of El Nino conditions.

💡Upwelling

Upwelling is the process by which deeper, nutrient-rich waters rise to the surface, often due to wind patterns. The video describes how El Nino affects upwelling by pushing colder water downward, blocking the upwelling of nutrient-rich waters. This disruption impacts marine life, as it alters the availability of food for certain species and can lead to the migration of fish and other marine organisms.

💡Fisheries

Fisheries refer to the industry or activity of catching fish. The video script notes that fisheries in Central and South America suffer during El Nino due to the migration of marine life caused by changes in water temperature and nutrient availability. This has economic and ecological implications, as it affects the livelihoods of those dependent on fishing and the health of marine ecosystems.

💡Vector-Borne Diseases

Vector-borne diseases are illnesses transmitted by living organisms, such as mosquitoes. The video explains that El Nino can lead to an increase in vector-borne diseases like malaria, especially in regions where such diseases are not typically prevalent. This is due to the changes in climate conditions, such as increased rainfall and humidity, which can create favorable environments for disease vectors.

💡Droughts

Droughts are prolonged periods of abnormally low rainfall, leading to water shortages. The video script contrasts the effects of El Nino in different regions, noting that while some areas experience increased rainfall and floods, others like Southeast Asia and Australia suffer from droughts. This highlights the complex and varied impacts of El Nino on global weather patterns.

💡Predictability

Predictability in the context of the video refers to the ability of scientists to forecast the occurrence of El Nino events. The script mentions that scientists are now better equipped to predict El Nino, which is crucial for communities to prepare for the associated weather changes and mitigate potential damages. This predictability is a key factor in managing the impacts of El Nino on human and natural systems.

Highlights

El Nino is a natural weather phenomenon in the Pacific Ocean that can cause climate changes and natural disasters.

It is named after the warmer waters observed by South American fishermen during Christmas time.

El Nino is not a storm but a complex weather pattern caused by warming surface water temperatures.

An El Nino event is declared when sea surface temperatures rise 0.5 degrees Celsius over three months.

The normal east to west trade winds over the Pacific weaken during El Nino, altering ocean currents.

Warm water moves eastward, causing moisture to rise into the air and affecting weather across the Americas.

El Nino disrupts the upwelling of nutrient-rich waters, impacting marine life and fisheries.

In the western United States, Central and South America, El Nino leads to increased storms, rainfall, and floods.

El Nino can also increase the occurrence of vector-borne diseases like malaria in affected regions.

Conversely, Southeast Asia and Australia experience droughts, wildfires, and colder ocean waters during El Nino.

The 1997-98 El Nino was the most significant on record, causing widespread damage and loss of life.

Scientists have improved their ability to predict El Nino events, aiding in community preparedness.

El Nino's effects are felt from Alaska to South America and beyond, impacting a vast range of regions.

The phenomenon is characterized by a shift in atmospheric conditions and rainfall patterns.

The movement of warm water affects the marine ecosystem, causing some species to migrate.

El Nino's impact on land includes increased risk of property damage and loss of life due to extreme weather.

The phenomenon has economic implications, with the 1997-98 El Nino causing billions in damages.

Improved prediction of El Nino events helps communities adapt and mitigate its effects.