El Niño
Tropical ocean phenomenon
El Niño is a climate pattern in which Pacific Ocean surface temperatures near the equator become unusually warm, disrupting normal weather worldwide.
It brings drought to some regions and flooding to others, affecting agriculture, fisheries, and storm patterns.
The name, Spanish for "the boy" or "the Christ child," reflects its typical arrival around Christmas.
El Niño alternates irregularly with its cooling counterpart, La Niña: Forecasters predict a strong El Niño this winter.
Tropical Pacific airflow cycle
- feedback loopSelf-modifying cyclical process
- pressure gradientSpatial variation in force
- cycleRepeating sequence of events
- phaseDistinct period in sequence
Pacific coast republic
- HumboldtGerman naturalist-geographer
- upwellingDeep water rising surfaceward
- anchovySmall, salty forage fish
- fisheriesFish-harvesting operations
coastal · thermocline · coastline · South America · marine ecosystem · biodiversity · collapse · oceanography
Prolonged water scarcity
- floodsOverflowing onto dry land
- coral bleachingStress-induced reef discoloration
- crop failureWhen fields yield nothing
- famineSevere food shortage
wildfire · humanitarian crisis · displacement · extreme weather · bushfire · disease outbreak · economic loss · food insecurity
Weight of air above
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- humidityMoisture in atmosphere
storm · cyclone · typhoon · hurricane · jet stream · weather pattern · anomaly · ocean warming
Walker circulation
Tropical Pacific airflow cycle
- feedback loopSelf-modifying cyclical process
- pressure gradientSpatial variation in force
- cycleRepeating sequence of events
Peru
Pacific coast republic
- HumboldtGerman naturalist-geographer
- upwellingDeep water rising surfaceward
- anchovySmall, salty forage fish
fisheries · coastal · thermocline · coastline · South America · marine ecosystem · biodiversity · collapse · oceanography · trade winds
drought
Prolonged water scarcity
- floodsOverflowing onto dry land
- coral bleachingStress-induced reef discoloration
- crop failureWhen fields yield nothing
famine · wildfire · humanitarian crisis · displacement · extreme weather · bushfire · disease outbreak · economic loss · food insecurity · water shortage
atmospheric pressure
Weight of air above
- precipitationAtmospheric water deposit
- forecastPrediction of future conditions
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
humidity · storm · cyclone · typhoon · hurricane · jet stream · weather pattern · anomaly · ocean warming · prediction