El Nino

Every three to seven years, a warm current of water replaces the usual cold current of water off the west coast of Peru, South America. This observed oceanic phenomenon is called El Nirio. This warming occurs over a wide area covering the central and eastern Pacific and has linkage with the occurrence of some major unusual weather conditions in different parts of the world like severe floods and prolonged droughts. In Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Australia, drier than normal conditions occur whereas central and eastern equatorial Pacific is unusually wet. South American fishermen have given this phenomenon the name El Nino, which is Spanish for “The Christ Child,” because it comes about the time of the celebration of the birth of the Christ Chi ld-Christmas.

Several research studies have been done on correlations between El Nino events and seasonal weather conditions. Scientists seem to be finding regular pattern changes, especially in the strongest El Nirio years, but every El Nirio is different. Trade winds suddenly weaken in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, causing the warmer water to spread back east, cutting off the nutrient rich uptake and bringing rainstorms eastward away from Asia and Australia. The changes in water currents also has a huge effect on the atmospheric climate around the globe. Seasons are extended or shortened. Droughts and floods abound. South American economies are curtailed by the loss of fishing and climate effects on crops and people. In Asia and the western Pacific region, severe droughts are brought about that cause crops and economies to fail. Severe rainfall is brought as well, that has effects on tourism and cash crops as well. The climatic effects also hamper North America heavily, bringing flooding to some parts and droughts to others. These extreme climate changes have effects all around the globe in property and business.

The long-term goal of weather agencies around the world is to gather enough data on events like El Nirio to improve weather forecasting systems. Today, scientists can predict El Nino up to a year in advance, using complex computer simulations and data from other satellites and buoys. This should allow for more comprehensive models and more accurate predictions.