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416: Assignment #4 - The El Nio Southern Oscillation

Instructions: Type your response directly below each question. Use font-Time Roman (pt 11) for your
response. Create more space as needed. You should have access to the internet and make sure your
browser is capable of showing Flash (Hint: Google Chrome works best!). After you have entered
your response, convert this document into a PDF file and upload it on Blackboard by the deadline.

Summary
The purpose of this assignment is to introduce you to the phenomena of El Nio Southern Oscillation
(ENSO) events and how these events can create disasters in certain parts of the world. This assignment
requires you to visit an interactive website that uses 'Shockwave'. As noted above, Google Chrome
works best but Internet Explorer and Safari web browsers will work as well.
Visit: http://forces.si.edu/elnino/interactive/prime_base.swf
The screenshot is shown on the right: Once you are on this page, do not use the 'back' button of your
browser. You will be navigating this site within itself.
Click on 'What is El Nino' box on this page: The next page will bring a screen that should look like this
(see the bottom figure). Now click on the 'Warmer Water' box. The new page will show the Sea surface
temperature (SST) map. Shades of blue indicate cooler
waters and shades of yellow and orange indicate
warmer waters. The default setting for this map is for
'Normal Conditions'. Click on 'El Nino Conditions'. You
will see changes in the map.
Q1: Focusing only the Pacific Ocean, describe the
broad pattern of SST changes.
(i) Between 'normal' and El Nino conditions.
Normal conditions demonstrate the temperatures, as
slightly cooler. There are also some slightly warmer
areas present, where the temperature is roughly 2. As
for El Nio temperature conditions show the areas
close to the equator, as warm ranging between 2-5, and
the areas below the equator are much cooler during the
El Nio, in comparison to normal conditions. If we look
west of North America we can see that the sea surface
temperature is warming up and looks as if the
temperature will blend with the temperature at the
equator.
(ii) Between 'normal' and La Nina conditions.
La Nia temperature conditions get significantly cooler
compared to normal conditions. Near the equator the
SST gets very cool, roughly -4. The areas underneath the equator ranges from -0 to about 2. In the area
below the 30-degree latitudinal line, the temperature is colder than normal conditions during La Nia.

Q2:

After completing question 1, click on 'Back to the Map' box on bottom right. Now click 'The
End of an El Nio' box. Describe what conditions bring an end to an El Nio's event.

The conditions that bring an end to El Nio's event are; high sea levels that decrease to normal heights,
the sea surface temperature begins to cool, trade winds in turn strengthen and deep cold water starts
to move east.

Now Click 'MAIN MENU' to go back the home page. On this page, click 'LONG DISTANCE
CONNECTIONS' link. The new page will show a number of 'boxes'. Each box serves as a link to provide
information on the impacts El Nino and La Nina have in different parts of the world. Let's start by
clicking 'CONNECTION to DEADLY DISEASE' box on the far left.

Q3:

Describe the link between El Nio's and Hantavirus (a kind of respiratory infection) in the
southwestern United States. What is the carrier of the virus? And why this carrier is more
abundant during El Nio's?

The weather extremes that are caused by El Nio affect the spreading of infectious diseases. For
instance, in 1993, the Hantavirus, which is a respiratory infection, killed 27 Americans and the
Navajo Indians were some of those victims of the respiratory infection.
The carrier of this virus is the Deer Mice. The carrier is more abundant during El Nio because during
1991-1992 El Nio brought heavier than normal rain and snow. Which in turn, by the spring of
1993, there was an abundance of seeds and nut crops, which allowed for the mouse population
to increase. Therefore, spreading the Hantavirus.

Q4:

After completing Q3, click 'BACK TO THE MAP' and then click 'HURRICANE CONNECTION'
box. Review this page by going over all the information contained on this page. Provide your
response to the following questions.
Which condition (EL Nio's or La Nina) aid in formation of Hurricanes in Atlantic?
La Nia is what aids the formation of Hurricanes in the Atlantic.

Explain what brought large swarms of African locusts to the Caribbean island in 1998?

The reason for large swarms of African locusts coming to the Caribbean island in 1998 was that
the jet stream weakened which then caused hurricanes to increase in number and its intensity. There
are some hurricanes that bring more rain and wind. Hurricane Joan brought large numbers of African
Locusts to the Caribbean. In 1998, La Nia caused intense wetness in Africas deserts, which allowed
vegetation to increase and the locust populations to amplify. As soon as the rain diminished, the Locust
migrated west in search for food.


Review the maps above. The top left and top right panels show El Nino and L a Nina impact on Global
climate during winter, respectively. The bottom left and bottom right panels show El Nino and La Nina
impact on Global climate during summer, respectively. Based on information provided on these maps,
answer the following questions: (If you have difficulty in seeing the above maps, you can examine
bigger images at these websites:
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/impacts/cold.gif
http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/impacts/warm.gif

How does El Nino and La Nina influence climate over India during summer months?
El Nio influences the climate in India during summer months, as the climate tends to be dry, that
climate changes during La Nia when the climate gets both wet and cool.
How does El Nino and La Nina influence climate over Florida during winter?
In Florida however, it tends to be the opposite during winter. El Nio causes the climate to be wet and
cool and La Nia causes the climate in Florida during winter to be dry and warm.