NOAA El Nino Quiz Bowl

Which of the following properties do scientists use to determine if El Niño is present

and its strength?

• Carbon isotopes in deep sea sediments

• pH levels of Arctic waters

• Southern Oscillation Index

• Sea ice coverage in Greenland

In an El Niño year, which set of the following conditions would you expect:

• A cooling of Pacific Ocean SSTs near South America and a warming of SSTs to

  the northeast of Australia

• A warming of Pacific Ocean SSTs near South America and a cooling of

  SSTs to the northeast of Australia

• A warming of the oceans near the northeast of Australia only

• A cooling of Pacific Ocean water near South America only

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

During an El Niño year, rainfall in (Eastern) Australia would likely be:

• Greater than normal

• Less than normal

• About the same as in a non El Niño year

• It is impossible to determine because there is no known relationship

  between El Niño conditions and rainfall

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Typically there are trade winds that blow along the equator in the Pacific Ocean

from East to West. In an El Niño year the trade winds:

• Increase in strength

• Weaken

• Do not change

• Reverse direction

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Short answer: During an El Niño year, what is most likely to happen to the Peruvian

Anchovy population?

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-LS2-1

NGSS.MS-LS2-4

Reminder question: The difference in the height of the water surface between high

and low tides is:

• Neap tide

• Spring tide

• Tidal range

• Tidal current

Tidal range is typically the highest during which types of tide?

• Neap tide

• Spring tide

• Tidal range

• Tidal current

What is upwelling?

• A surge in fish populations like Peruvian Anchovy

• The rising of a cold, nutrient rich current from deep in the ocean

• A temperature cell in the atmosphere that rises rapidly

• A hurricane that forms rapidly

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

During El Niño, upwelling in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South America:

• Increases

• Decreases

• Shows no change

• It is impossible to determine because there is no known relationship

  between El Niño conditions and upwelling

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Explain what is meant by “SST Anomaly.” (2pt)

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6