All Flashcards
What are the steps of El Niño development?
- Trade winds weaken or reverse. 2. Warm water shifts eastward. 3. Thermocline deepens.
What are the steps of La Niña development?
- Trade winds strengthen. 2. Warm water shifts westward. 3. Upwelling increases; thermocline rises.
What are the effects of weakened trade winds in the Pacific?
Warm water shifts eastward, leading to El Niño conditions.
What are the effects of strengthened trade winds in the Pacific?
Warm water shifts westward, leading to La Niña conditions and increased upwelling.
What is the effect of El Nino on the southeastern U.S.?
Colder and wetter winters.
What is the effect of La Nina on the southeastern U.S.?
Warmer and drier conditions.
What is the effect of ENSO on precipitation patterns?
Increased risks of floods and droughts in various regions due to shifts in precipitation.
What is the effect of El Nino on ocean heat capacity?
Decreased ocean heat capacity, potentially contributing to global warming.
What is the effect of altered bird migration patterns?
Can affect breeding and survival rates of bird populations.
What is ENSO?
El Niño-Southern Oscillation: a climate pattern with El Niño and La Niña phases.
Define El Niño.
Significant warming of Pacific Ocean surface waters between South America and Papua New Guinea.
Define La Niña.
Cooling of Pacific Ocean surface waters in the same region as El Niño.
What is the thermocline?
Layer in the ocean where a sharp temperature drop occurs.
Define upwelling.
Process where colder, deeper water rises to the surface.