1. ENSO El Nino / La Nina episodes of ocean warming and cooling

2. NORMAL Conditions Trade Winds Cool water pools near S.America,
Warm water pools near Australia

3. How are “El Niño” conditions different than normal?
Ocean currents reverse
Warm water pools near S.America
Cool water pools near Australia

6. El Nino Warning System
Sea Surface Temperature
Wind Speed/Direction
Ocean Current Direction

7. Global Effects of El Nino
Floods/mudslides in S. America
Droughts in Australia/Indonesia (cooler waters create more stable atmos. and less rain)
Termination of the coastal upwelling along S. America (hurts fisheries)

8. El Nino’s effect on the United States
Jet Stream is moved north

9. El Nino’s effect on the United States
Warmer winters in N states
Wet/colder winters in S states
Weak hurricane system

10. Think of La Nina as a strengthened version of “Normal”
Trade Winds are extremely strong
Very cold water pools near S.America, very warm water pools near Australia

11. Global Effects of La Nina
Heavy rains in the western Pacific
Strong coastal upwellings along S. America
Extreme drought along S. America’s Pacific coastline.

12. La Nina’s effect on the U.S.
Colder than normal winters
Increased snowfall
Midwest gets more precip. than normal

13. Comparison of surface temps
El Nino
Normal
La Nina

14. El Nino

15. Normal Conditions

16. La Nina

17. El Nino or La Nina?

18. NORMAL, EL NINO, OR LA NINA?
Normal (Nov 2001)

19. Helpful Websites TAO ~ Tropical Atmosphere Ocean project
The TAO Story

20. EL NINO SOUTHERN OSCILLATION