El Nino and La Nina

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What is El Niño?

Back

El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by the warming of surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, which can disrupt normal weather patterns.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What is La Niña?

Back

La Niña is a climate pattern characterized by the cooling of surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, often leading to opposite weather effects compared to El Niño.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

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What are the typical climate impacts of El Niño?

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El Niño can cause increased rainfall in the southern United States and drought in the western Pacific regions, among other effects.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What are the typical climate impacts of La Niña?

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La Niña often leads to drought in the Southern United States and cooler temperatures, heavy rains, and flooding in the Pacific Northwest.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

How do trade winds behave during El Niño?

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During El Niño, trade winds weaken, allowing warm surface water to move eastward.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

How do trade winds behave during La Niña?

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During La Niña, trade winds strengthen, pushing warm surface water further west and allowing cooler water to upwell in the eastern Pacific.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What is the effect of El Niño on the jet stream?

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El Niño can cause the jet stream to intensify and shift southward, affecting weather patterns across North America.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What is the effect of La Niña on the jet stream?

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La Niña can lead to a northward shift of the jet stream, which can influence weather patterns differently than El Niño.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What is upwelling in the context of ocean currents?

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Upwelling is the process where deep, cold, nutrient-rich water rises to the surface, often supporting marine life.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Front

What happens to ocean temperatures during El Niño?

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During El Niño, ocean temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific rise significantly.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6