#El Nio - La Nia

What is El Nio and La Nia?

El Nio and La Nia are extreme phases of

naturally occurring climate cycle known as
El Nio/Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

Both terms refer to large scale changes in

the sea surface across the eastern tropical
Pacific.
El Nio
El Nio phenomenon occurs at irregular intervals
of two to seven years and lasts for nine months
or two years at the most.

It starts at the end of the Christmas season that

is why it is termed as El Nio which refers to
Christ the child or Little boy
 During normal years, the warm water
that builds up in the pacific ocean is
being pushed by strong easterly wind or
the trade winds into the west pacific
area. As a result, rain forms in the
western pacific region.
El Nio

When the trade winds are weaken, they are unable

to push the warm water westwards. This allows the
rain area to migrate eastwards, causing enhanced
rainfall in the Eastern Pacific Region and reduced
rainfall in Western Pacific. This causes the piling up
of warm surface water and making the part of the
Pacific ocean warmer leading to the El Nio
phenomenon.
El Nio

El Nio is the abnormal and lengthy

warming in the eastern part of the
Pacific Ocean.
Effects
Some may experience near to above average
rainfall and some areas may experience drier
than normal rainfall.
Severe drought
Stronger thunder storm
More massive storms
Decrease in the population of species.
La Nia
It is the opposite of the climatic disturbance
El Nio.
It may, but does not always, follow El Nio
It may last for nine to twelve months but in
some cases, it lasts for two years.
La Nia is also a Spanish word meaning
La Nia is opposite to El Nio

In El Nio, there is a warming in

the Eastern Pacific Ocean, in La
Nia, there will be a cooling.
La Nia
Trade winds that move from east to west
are strengthened. Upwelling of colder
water intensifies. Moving air brings
along too much water vapor. When it
reaches the land mass such as
Philippines, precipitation is
Effects of La Nia
More precipitation that results to
catastrophic floods.
Drier climate in the Eastern Pacific Region.
Those that experienced severe drought
because of El Nio may encounter above
normal rainfall.
 El Nio La Nia
Warm ocean temperatures in Cold ocean temperatures in
the Eastern Pacific the Eastern Pacific
Causes drier weather in the Causes wetter weather in the
Western Pacific and wetter, Western Pacific and drier
humid weather in Eastern weather in Eastern Pacific.
Pacific.
Christ the Child/Little Boy Little Girl
Trade winds are weakened Trade winds are strengthened
Increased pressure on the Decreased pressure on the
western Pacific western Pacific
Low fishing season High fishing season in Peru