La

Nia

El
Nio

El Nio - Southern
Oscillation
phenomenon that takes place in the central and eastern
equatorial Pacific
characterized by an interaction between the ocean and
the atmosphere and their combined effect on climate
effects of a band ofsea surface temperatures which are
anomalously warm or coldfor long periods of time that
develops off the western coast of South America and
causes climatic changes across the tropics and subtropics

The three phases of the El

Nio Southern
Oscillation (ENSO)

Convection
process generally associated with warm rising air and the
formation of cloud

Walker
Circulation

named after Sir Gilbert Walker, the scientist who first

recognized a semi-regular pattern of high and low rainfall over
India.

Upwelling
a vertical motion of water
wind or currents displace water at the surface of the ocean,
water from deeper in the ocean is drawn up to replace the
displaced water

Trade Winds
a wind blowing steadily toward the equator from the
northeast in the northern hemisphere or the southeast in the
southern hemisphere

Thermocline
an oceanic water layer in which water temperature decreases
rapidly with increasing depth

Neutral
Phase

Warm sea surface temperatures in the western Pacific pump

heat and moisture into the atmosphere above.
Through atmospheric convection, this warm air rises high into
the atmosphere and if moist enough, causes towering
cumulonimbus clouds and rain.
Air then travels east before descending over the cooler eastern
tropical Pacific.
Ocean temperatures, tropical precipitation, and wind patterns
are near average conditions during this phase.

Neutral
Phase

El Nio
These warmer than normal ocean temperatures are associated
with a deepening of the thermocline in the central to eastern
Pacific.
There is a weaker upwelling of cooler ocean waters from below.
Associated with a band of warmer than average ocean water
temperatures that periodically develops off the Pacific coast of
South America.
Causes the ocean surface to be warmer than average, as
upwelling of cold water occurs less or not at all.

El Nio

La Nia
The pool of warmer water is confined to the far western tropical
Pacific, resulting in warmer than usual sea surface temperatures
in the region north of Australia.
Sea surface temperatures across the central and eastern
tropical Pacific Ocean become cooler than usual.
Thermocline moves closer to the surface cool waters from the
deep ocean are drawn to the surface as upwelling strengthens.

La Nia

Effects of El
Nio
Ocean dynamical processes depress the thermocline in the eastern
and central equatorial Pacific, and along the coasts of North and
South America.
The supply of nutrients to the euphotic zone drops or may be cut off
entirely.
Zooplankton that feed on phytoplankton decrease in abundance.
Fish, sea birds and marine mammals die off or migrate to more
productive regions in search of food.
Undernourished sea birds and marine mammals may experience
reproductive failures or abandon young when food becomes
scarce.

Effects of El
Nio
El Nio can also cause bleaching of tropical corals when
water temperatures become too warm.
Occurred during 1998 in the Galapagos Islands, off the
coast of Panama, in the Great Barrier Reef of Australia
and elsewhere in the tropics in response to the
exceptionally strong 19971998 El Nio.
Decadal warming trends in tropical ocean temperatures
contributed to this bleaching

Coral
Bleachin
g

Effects of El
Nio
El Nio can also dramatically affect fisheries.
Example would be the collapse of the Peruvian anchoveta
fishery following the 19721973 El Nio.
Intense fishing pressure and extraordinarily high mortality rates
during the 19721973 El Nio caused the fishery to crash.
Flood-contaminated water supplies in some regions contributed to
outbreaks of cholera and dysentery.
Stagnant pools of floodwater also provided ideal breeding grounds
for mosquitoes and other insects that spread infectious diseases.

Effects of El
Nio
El Nio 1997-1998 Philippines according to UNCCD (United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification) in 2000
Depletion of palay production.
3,832,000 hectares available for rice planting to
3,017,000 hectares
Almost 17% of plantation area was not used.
1992 drought in Mindanao
8 months of drought
27,389 hectares of Watershed areas were burned
Massive Land Erosion
45.6% land Degradation of total lands

Effects of La
Nia
It affects tropical storm frequency, intensity, and
geographical distribution Depletion of palay production.
Through changes in sea surface temperature and
atmospheric circulation.
Hurricanes
1995 Atlantic hurricane season
That year witnessed a bumper crop of 19 named
tropical Atlantic storms, including 11 hurricanes,
almost double the usual number.

Effects of La
Nia
Hurricane Mitch
One of the strongest Atlantic hurricanes on record
and the deadliest in 200 years.
Spawned during the 1998 La Nia.
Devastated Central America, claiming 10 000 lives,
leaving over three million homeless, and causing
US$6 billion in damage.

Hurrica
ne
Mitch

Benefits of La
Nia
For instance, higher monsoon rainfall totals over the Indian
subcontinent, the western Pacific, and northeastern Brazil
can support greater agricultural production and economic
growth.
In terms of marine ecosystems, primary productivity,
driven by more intense equatorial and coastal upwelling, is
generally enhanced.
Enhanced winter snowpack in the mountains of the Pacific
Northwest provide for extra hydroelectric power
production, ample summer water supplies, and improved
freshwater habitat for salmon.

Presented by
Canonero
Canonicato
Cerbo
Fundal
Gayondato
Sabusap