What are El Niño and La Niña, and how do they affect the world?

El Niño and La Niña are natural phenomena caused by changes in sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean. These phenomena significantly impact weather patterns around the world, but they differ greatly in their characteristics and effects.

El Niño

El Niño occurs when sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean become warmer than normal. This leads to changes in wind patterns and atmospheric circulation globally. The consequences include:

• Unusual heavy rainfall: Some areas, such as South America, experience more rainfall than usual.

• Drought: Other regions, such as Southeast Asia and Australia, often face dry conditions.

• Higher temperatures: Some parts of the world may experience abnormally high temperatures.

• Impact on fisheries: Warmer ocean water can lead to a decrease in fish populations in parts of the Pacific Ocean.

  
  

La Niña

La Niña occurs when sea surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean are cooler than normal. This also leads to changes in wind and atmospheric circulation. The effects of La Niña include:

• Increased rainfall: Areas like Southeast Asia and Australia tend to experience more rain.

• Drought: Other regions, such as South America and parts of the United States, may suffer from dry conditions.

• Stronger storms: La Niña can intensify storms in some parts of the Pacific.

• Cooler temperatures: Some areas around the world may experience lower-than-normal temperatures due to La Niña.

  
  

In summary, El Niño is caused by warmer ocean waters, leading to heavy rain in some areas and drought in others. On the other hand, La Niña results from cooler ocean waters, also causing increased rain in some regions and drought in others. Therefore, both phenomena cause global weather patterns to shift in distinctly different ways.