All Flashcards
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.
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 drives ENSO events?
Changes in ocean temperatures and atmospheric pressure in the tropical Pacific.
How do trade winds affect El Niño?
Trade winds weaken or reverse, causing warm water to shift eastward.
How do trade winds affect La Niña?
Trade winds strengthen, pushing warm water further west.
How does El Niño affect the thermocline?
The thermocline deepens, meaning less cool water is near the surface.
How does La Niña affect the thermocline?
The thermocline moves upward, reducing the volume of warm water near the surface.
What is the relationship between El Niño and global warming?
During El Niño, the ocean's ability to absorb heat decreases, contributing to global warming.
How does ENSO affect precipitation patterns?
Both El Niño and La Niña cause shifts in precipitation patterns, leading to increased risks of floods and droughts.
How does ENSO affect species?
Rapid climate changes can force species to relocate, disrupting ecosystems and altering migration patterns.