DO YOU UNDERSTAND THE ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA KNOWN AS ‘EL NIÑO’ AND ‘LA NIÑA’?
These phenomena have a significant impact on people’s lives and ecosystems all over the world.
El Nio is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when the temperature of the Pacific Ocean’s surface water rises and winds blow weaker than usual. This phenomenon occurs every three to seven years. It also causes flooding, droughts, forest fires, and, as a result, food shortages and disease. It also has a significant impact on global climate change. The inverse phenomenon is known as ‘La Nia.’ The water is cooler than usual during this phase, and the eastern winds are stronger.
Impact on humans
‘El Nio’ and ‘La Nia’ have far-reaching consequences for people and ecosystems all over the world. As a result, these climatic phenomena wreak havoc all over the world, with South America and some regions between Indonesia and Australia bearing the brunt of the damage. Interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere affect global climate, causing severe storms, floods, and droughts.
Furthermore, in addition to having an impact on the climate, these climate changes have secondary consequences such as higher food prices, increased forest fires, or the implementation of new policies.
Impact on the ecosystem
Ecosystems can be influenced in both positive and negative ways. In the southern United States, for example, ‘El Nio’ causes an increase in rainfall (sometimes causing destructive floods) during the fall and spring seasons.
‘La Nia’ causes a drier climate in the south, but a colder and wetter climate in the northwest. Furthermore, despite the fact that El Nio originates in the Pacific Ocean, it usually reduces the number of hurricanes that form in the Atlantic Ocean. The La Nia phenomenon, on the other hand, tends to increase the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic.
Similarly, ‘El Nio’ has an impact on food production. Changes in ocean temperature and currents have a direct impact on marine life. This has a negative impact on people who make a living from fishing as well as consumers who rely on certain fish for food. Of course, agriculture is highly dependent on weather, so rain could have an impact.
