NationMaster - Encyclopedia: La Niña

Chart of abnormal ocean surface temperatures [ºC] observed in December 1997 during the last strong El Niño (source: National Centers for Environmental Protection, US). File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. Click on date to download...

Chart of ocean surface temperature anomaly [°C] during the last strong El Niño in December 1997

El Niño and La Niña ( This article is about the international language known as Spanish. For other languages spoken in Spain see Languages of Spain. Spanish or Castilian is an Iberian Romance language, and the third or fourth most spoken language in the world. It is spoken as a first language by about 352 million... Spanish for "boy" and "girl", often written in English as El Nino and La Nina) are major temperature fluctuations in the tropical The Pacific Ocean (from the Latin name Mare Pacificum, peaceful sea, bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan) is the worlds largest body of water. It encompasses a third of the Earths surface, having an area of 179.7 million km² (69.4 million sq... Pacific Ocean. They are Pacific signatures of the global ENSO phenomenon (El Niño-Southern Oscillation). Their effect on climate in the southern hemisphere is profound. Their role in Global Mean Temperatures 1880-2005 Global warming is a term used to describe an increase over time of the average temperature of Earths atmosphere and oceans. Global warming theories attempt to account for the rise in average global temperatures since the late 19th century (0.6 ± 0.2°C... global warming or cooling is an area of active research, with no clear consensus yet.

El Niño

El Niño Conditions. Warm water pool approaches South American coast. Absence of cold upwelling increases warming. ( The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce. NOAA operates a network of weather satellites, the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center, and cooperates with the National Ice Center. Mission National Weather Service meteorologists preparing a forecast, early 20th century... NOAA / PMEL / TAO)

Normal Pacific pattern. Equatorial winds gather warm water pool toward west. Cold water upwells along South American coast.

La Niña Conditions. Warm water is further west than usual.

El Niño is officially defined as sea The historical temperature record shows the fluctuations of the temperature of the atmosphere and the oceans throughout history, and in particular since 1850. The Historical Period: from 1850 The phrase historical temperature record is generally used for the time over which reasonably reliable near-surface temperature records exist from actual... surface temperature anomalies greater than +0.5°C across the central tropical Pacific Ocean. The name comes from This article is about the international language known as Spanish. For other languages spoken in Spain see Languages of Spain. Spanish or Castilian is an Iberian Romance language, and the third or fourth most spoken language in the world. It is spoken as a first language by about 352 million... Spanish name for the This article is about the figure known by both Jesus of Nazareth and Jesus Christ. For other usages, see Jesus (disambiguation). This 11th-century portrait is one of many images of Jesus in which a halo with a cross is used. Jesus of Nazareth (b. about 6–4 BC... Christ child; the name was given to the phenomenon by fishermen working off the coast of The Republic of Peru (Spanish: Perú; Quechua, Aymara: Piruw) is a country in western South America, bordering with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the east, south-east and south, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Peru is rich... Peru and The Republic of Ecuador is a country in northwestern South America, bounded by Colombia on the north, by Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean on the west. The country also includes the Galápagos Islands (Colón Archipelago) in the Pacific, about 965 km (about... Ecuador, who noticed it often occurs around Joseph and Mary with baby Jesus, at the first Christmas Christmas (literally, the Mass of Christ) is a holiday in the Christian calendar, usually observed on December 25, which celebrates the birth of Jesus. According to the Christian gospels, Jesus was born to Mary in Bethlehem, where she and her... Christmas. It occurs at irregular intervals of 2-7 years and usually lasts one or two years.

El Niño's warm current of nutrient-poor tropical water replaces the cold, nutrient-rich surface water of the The Humboldt Current (or Peru Current) is a cold ocean current that flows northward off the west coast of South America. It is named after the German scientist, Alexander von Humboldt. This current originates in the Southern Ocean near the Antarctic, and is thus about 7-8 C° cooler than... Humboldt Current which fish prefer. In most years the warming lasts only a few weeks or a month, after which the weather patterns return to normal and fishing improves. However, when El Niño conditions last for many months, more extensive ocean warming occurs and its economic impact to local fishing can be serious.

Recent El Niños have occurred in 1986 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events January January 1 - Spain and Portugal enter the European Community January 1 - Aruba gains increased autonomy from the Netherlands and is separated from the Netherlands Antilles. January 9 - After losing a patent battle with Polaroid, Kodak leaves... 1986- 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. Events Environmental change Varroa destructor, an invasive parasite is found in the US October 15 - Hurricane force winds cause extensive damage in southern England. January January 1 - Frobisher Bay, Northwest Territories, changes its name to Iqaluit. In 1999... 1987, 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events January January 2 - Sharon Pratt Dixon is sworn in as mayor of Washington, DC becoming the first black woman to lead a city of that size and importance. January 4 - The United Nations Security Council votes unanimously... 1991- 1992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events January January - The Internet Society is formed. January 1 Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General George H. W. Bush becomes the first... 1992, 1993 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003) Events January January 1 - Czechoslovakia divides. Establishment of independent Slovakia and Czech Republic. January 3 - In Moscow, George H. W. Bush and... 1993, 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. Events January January 1 - North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) goes into effect January 6 - Nancy Kerrigan is clubbed on the right leg by an assailant under orders from... 1994, 1997 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Reef. Events January January 3 - NBCs Today Show Bryant Gumbel signs off for the last time January 8 - Mister Rogers receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame... 1997- 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. Events January January 1998 - A massive ice storm, caused by El Niño, strikes New England, southern Ontario and Quebec, resulting in widespread power failures, severe damage to... 1998, and 2002 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. It was designated: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains National Science Year in the United Kingdom Autism Awareness Year in the United Kingdom Events January Euro banknotes in circulation throughout the twelve countries of the European Union that... 2002- 2003 is a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar, and also: The International Year of Freshwater The European Disability Year Events January January 1 - Luíz Inácio Lula Da Silva becomes the 37th President of Brazil. Pascal Couchepin becomes President of the Confederation in... 2003. A new El Niño has been in effect since September 2004 is a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. It was designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) Elections were held in 73 countries during 2004. See a list of elections... 2004. The El Niño of 1997-1998 was particularly strong, while the period from 1990-1994 was unusual in that El Niños rarely occur in such rapid succession. They were generally weak, however.

El Niño's effects

El Niño's weather effects depend on the location, time of year, and the location and strength of the particular episode.

Because El Niño's warm pool feeds thunderstorms above, it creates increased rainfall across the east-central and eastern Pacific Ocean.

In South America, the effects of El Niño are rather direct and stronger than in North America. An El Niño is associated with warm and very wet summers ( December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. December begins (astrologically) with the sun in the sign of Sagittarius and ends in the sign of Capricorn. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in... December- February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. It is the shortest Gregorian month and the only month with the length of 28 or 29 days. The month has 29 days in leap years, when the year number (eg 2004) is a multiple of four (but... February) along the coasts of northern The Republic of Peru (Spanish: Perú; Quechua, Aymara: Piruw) is a country in western South America, bordering with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the east, south-east and south, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Peru is rich... Peru and The Republic of Ecuador is a country in northwestern South America, bounded by Colombia on the north, by Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean on the west. The country also includes the Galápagos Islands (Colón Archipelago) in the Pacific, about 965 km (about... Ecuador causing major flooding whenever the event is strong or extreme. The effects during the months of February, March and April may become critical. Southern The Federative Republic of Brazil (República Federativa do Brasil in Portuguese) is the largest and most populous country in South America, and fifth largest in the world. Spanning a vast area between central South America and the Atlantic Ocean, it borders Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela... Brazil and northern Argentina is a country in southern South America, situated between the Andes in the west and the southern Atlantic Ocean in the east. It is bordered by Paraguay and Bolivia in the north, Brazil and Uruguay in the northeast and Chile in the west. The country is formally named Rep... Argentina also experience wetter than normal conditions but mainly during the spring and early summer. Central This article is about the country in South America; the word chile may also refer to Chilli pepper The Republic of Chile is a republic located on the southwestern coast of South America. It is a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean... Chile receives a mild winter with large rainfall, and the The Republic of Peru (Spanish: Perú; Quechua, Aymara: Piruw) is a country in western South America, bordering with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the east, south-east and south, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Peru is rich... Peruvian- For other uses, see Bolivia (disambiguation). The Republic of Bolivia is a landlocked country in central South America. It is bordered by Brazil in the north and east, Paraguay and Argentina in the south, and Chile and Peru in the west. Bolivia, named after independence fighter Simón Bolívar... Bolivian The Altiplano (Spanish for high plain), where the Andes are at their widest, is the most extensive area of high plateau on earth outside of Tibet. It is an area of inland drainage lying in the central Andes, occupying parts of Bolivia and Peru. Its height averages about 11,000... Altiplano is sometimes exposed to unusual winter snowfall events. Drier and hotter weather occurs in parts the Length 6,296 km Elevation of the source 5,597 m Average discharge 219,000 m /s Area watershed 6,915,000 km Origin Nevado Mismi Mouth Atlantic Ocean Basin countries Brazil (62.4%), Peru (16.3%) Bolivia (12.0%), Colombia (6.3%) Ecuador (2.1%) The Amazon River (occasionally... Amazon River Basin, For other uses see Columbia. The Republic of Colombia is a country in north-western South America. It is bound to the north and north-west by the Caribbean Sea, to the east by Venezuela and Brazil, to the south by Ecuador and Peru, and to the west by Panama... Colombia and Central America is the region of North America located between the southern border of Mexico and the northwest border of Colombia, in South America. Some geographers classify Central America as a large isthmus, and in this geographic sense it sometimes includes the portion of Mexico east of the Isthmus of... Central America.

Direct effects of El Niño resulting in drier conditions occur in The Republic of Indonesia, the worlds largest archipelago, is located between the Southeast Asian peninsula and Australia, between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the most populous Muslim-majority nation in the world and the fourth most populous overall. It has had free elections since the Indonesian 1998... Indonesia, the The Republic of the Philippines is an island nation consisting of an archipelago of 7,107 islands, lying in the tropical western Pacific Ocean about 100 kilometers southeast of mainland Asia. Spain (1565-1898) and the United States (1898-1946), colonized the country and have been the largest influences on... Philippines, and northern Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is the sixth-largest country in the world, the only one to occupy an entire continent, and the largest in the region of Australasia/ Oceania. It also includes a number of secondary islands, the largest of which is Tasmania, an Australian State. Australia is... Australia. Drier than normal conditions are also generally observed along the eastern half of Australia during June is the sixth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. June starts in Gemini and ends in Cancer. In the pagan wheel of the year the June spans summer solstice in the northern hemisphere and winter solstice in... June- August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. August begins (astrologically) with the sun in the sign of Leo and ends in the sign of Virgo. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in the constellation... August.

In World map showing location of North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is the third largest continent in area and in population after Eurasia and Africa. It is bounded on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the... North America, typically, winters are warmer than normal in the upper midwest states and Canada is an independent sovereign state in northern North America, the northern-most country in the world, and the second largest in total area. Bordering the United States, its territorial claims extend north into the Arctic Ocean as far as the North Pole. Canada is a federation of ten provinces... Canada, while central and southern For other uses, see California (disambiguation). State nickname: The Golden State Other U.S. States Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Official languages English Area 410,000 km² (3rd) - Land 404,298 km² - Water 20,047 km² (4.7%) Population (2000) - Population... California, northwest The United Mexican States or Mexico ( Spanish: Estados Unidos Mexicanos or México; regarding the use of the variant spelling Méjico, see section The name below) is a country located in North America, bordered to the north by the United States of America, to the southeast by... Mexico and the southeastern U.S., are wetter than normal. Summer is wetter in the intermountain regions of the U.S. The Pacific Northwest states, on the other hand, tend to be drier during an El Niño. During a La Niña, by contrast, the midwestern U.S. tends to be drier than normal.

Finally, Africa experiences December is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. December begins (astrologically) with the sun in the sign of Sagittarius and ends in the sign of Capricorn. Astronomically speaking, the sun begins in... December- February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. It is the shortest Gregorian month and the only month with the length of 28 or 29 days. The month has 29 days in leap years, when the year number (eg 2004) is a multiple of four (but... February wetter than normal conditions in the See also Sahel, Tunisia, a region of eastern Tunisia. The Sahel (from Arabic ساحل sahil for shore or border) is the boundary zone in Africa between the Sahara to the north and the more fertile region to the south, known as the Sudan (not to be confused... Sahel region, which is equatorial World map showing location of Africa A satellite composite image of Africa Africa is the worlds second-largest continent in both area and population, after Eurasia. At about 30,244,050 km2 (11,677,240 mi2) including its adjacent islands, it covers 20.3 percent of the total land... Africa) along the southern edge of the The Sahara is the worlds second largest desert (second to Antarctica), over 9,000,000 km² (3,500,000 mi²), located in northern Africa and is 2.5 million years old. The entire land area of the United States of America would fit inside it. Its name Sahara ص... Sahara desert. There also are drier than normal conditions in south-central Africa, mainly in Zambia is a republic in south central Africa. It borders the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and Angola. Zambias capital and largest city is Lusaka. National motto: One Zambia, One Nation Official languages English Capital Lusaka 15° 00′ S, 30° 00... Zambia, The Republic of Zimbabwe is a country located in the southern part of the continent of Africa, between the Victoria Falls, Zambezi river, Kariba Dam and Limpopo river. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the west, Zambia to the north and Mozambique to the east... Zimbabwe, Mozambique is a country in Southern Africa, bordering South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe. It is a member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries and the Commonwealth of Nations. Its capital and largest city is Maputo, located in the southern edge of the country. National motto: n... Mozambique and The Republic of Botswana (Lefatshe la Botswana) is a landlocked nation of southern Africa. Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent on September 30, 1966. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Namibia to the west, Zambia to the north, and... Botswana.

Non-climate effects

East Pacific fishing

Along the west coast of South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. South America is situated between the Pacific Ocean and the Atlantic Ocean. It became attached to North America only recently, geologically speaking, with the formation of the Isthmus of Panama... South America, El Niño reduces the Upwelling is an oceanographic phenomenon that occurs when strong, usually seasonal, winds push water away from the coast, bringing cold, nutrient-rich deep waters up to the surface. Deep water nutrients consist of nutritional salts such as nitrates and phosphates, themselves the result of decomposition of the sea snow. When... upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water that sustains large Fish might refer to: Fish - vertebrates with gills which live in water Fish (sometimes FISH) - the British code-word for World War II German stream cipher teleprinter secure communications devices The FISH (FIbonacci SHrinking) stream cipher published in 1993 Fish - the former lead singer of progressive rock band Marillion fluorescent... fish populations, that sustain abundant sea birds, whose droppings support the Fertilizers are chemicals given to plants with the intention of promoting growth; they are usually applied either via the soil or by foliar spraying. Fertilizers typically provide, in varying proportions, the three major plant nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), the secondary plant nutrients (calcium, sulfur, magnesium), and sometimes trace elements... fertilizer industry.

The local fishing industry along the affected coastline can suffer during long-lasting El Niño events. The world's largest fishery collapsed due to overfishing during the 1972 was a leap year that started on a Saturday. Events January January 2 - the Pierre Hotel Heist - Six men rob the safety deposit boxes of the Pierre Hotel in New York City. Loot is at least $4 million January 5 - President of the United States Richard Nixon orders the... 1972 El Niño anchoveta reduction. During the 1982 is a number and represents a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar Events January-February January 6 - William Bonin is convicted of being the freeway killer. January 8 - AT&T agrees to divest itself of twenty-two subdivisions January 11 - Mark Thatcher, son of the... 1982- 1983 is an integer and composite number that represents a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. Events January January 1 - Beat Raaflaub became Basel Boys Choirs new conductor January 1 - the ARPANET officially changes to use the Internet Protocol, creating the Internet. January 1 - compulsory wearing... 83 event, A mackerel is any one of a number of different species of fish, mostly in the family Scombridae. They occur in all tropical and temperate seas. Most live offshore in the oceanic environment but a few, like the Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) enter bays and can be caught near bridges... jack mackerel and anchoveta populations were reduced, Genera Pecten Pedum Amusium Chlamys Decatopecten Argopecten Flexopecten Lissopecten Hyalopecten Nodipecten Patinopecten Semipallium Mimachlamys Equichlamys Mesopeplum Veprichlamys Notochlamys Delectopecten Cryptopecten Anguipecten Haumea Mirapecten Volachlamys Juxtamusium Annachlamys Gloripallium Excellichlamys Bractechlamys Minnivola Coralichlamys Serratovola Somalipecten Pseudohinnites Glorichlamys Scallops are the family Pectinidae of bivalve molluscs. Like the true oysters (family Ostreidae), scallops... scallops increased in warmer water, but The term hake refers to various fish in the families Gadidae (subfamily Phycinae) and Merlucciidae (both subfamilies Merlucciinae and Steindachneriinae). Merluccius bilinearis - Silver Hake Silver Hake grows to a length of 30 inches (75 cm) and up to 5 lb (2.3 kg). It has a brown coloration with some... hake followed cooler water down the continental slope, while Suborders Not necessary complete list: Aristeidae Penaeidae Sergestidae Sicyoniidae Solenoceridae Nematocarcinidae Atyidae Pasiphaeoidae Rhynocinetidae Campylonotidae Palaemonidae Alpheidae Ogyrididae Hippolytidae Proussidae Pandalidae Crangonidae True shrimp are small, swimming, decapod crustaceans usually classified in the suborder Natantia, found widely around the world in both fresh and salt water. Taxonomy A number of... shrimp and Sardines or pilchards are a group of several types of small oily fish related to herrings, family Clupeidae. The terms are not precise, and the usual meanings vary by region; for instance, to many people a sardine is a young European pilchard. (FishBases list of common names shows at... sardines moved southward so some catches decreased while others increased. A mackerel is any one of a number of different species of fish, mostly in the family Scombridae. They occur in all tropical and temperate seas. Most live offshore in the oceanic environment but a few, like the Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus maculatus) enter bays and can be caught near bridges... Horse mackerel have increased in the region during warm events.

Fishing in warm water for cold-loving fish.

Shifting locations and types of fish due to changing conditions provide challenges for fishing industries. Peruvian Sardines or pilchards are a group of several types of small oily fish related to herrings, family Clupeidae. The terms are not precise, and the usual meanings vary by region; for instance, to many people a sardine is a young European pilchard. (FishBases list of common names shows at... sardines have moved during El Niño events to This article is about the country in South America; the word chile may also refer to Chilli pepper The Republic of Chile is a republic located on the southwestern coast of South America. It is a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean... Chilean areas. Other conditions provide further complications, such as the government of Chile in 1991 is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events January January 2 - Sharon Pratt Dixon is sworn in as mayor of Washington, DC becoming the first black woman to lead a city of that size and importance. January 4 - The United Nations Security Council votes unanimously... 1991 creating restrictions on the fishing areas for artisanal fishermen and industrial fleets.

The ENSO variability may contribute to the great success of small fast-growing species along the Peruvian coast, as periods of low population removes predators in the area. Similar effects benefit Migration occurs when living things move from one biome to another. In most cases organisms migrate to avoid local shortages of food, usually caused by winter. Animals may also migrate to a certain location to breed, as is the case with some fish. The species that periodically migrate are called... migratory birds which travel each spring from predator-rich tropical areas to distant winter-stressed nesting areas.

Causes of El Niño

The mechanisms which might cause an El Niño event are still being investigated. It is difficult to find patterns which may show causes or allow forecasts.

La Niña

A schematic diagram of the quasi-equilibrium and La Niña phase of the southern oscillation. The Walker circulation is seen at the surface is seen as easterly trade winds which move water and air warmed by the sun towards the west. The western side of the equatorial Pacific is characterized by warm, wet low pressure weather as the collected moisture is dumped in the form of typhoons and thunderstorms. The ocean is some 60 cm higher in the eastern Pacific as the result of this motion. The water and air are returned to the east. Both are now much cooler, and the air is much drier. An El Niño episode is characterised by a breakdown of this water and air cycle, resulting in relatively warm water and moist air in the eastern Pacific.

In the Pacific, La Niña is characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific, compared to El Niño, which is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the same area. The La Niña condition often follows the El Niño, especially when the latter is strong. Strong La Niñas occurred in 1988 is a leap year starting on a Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Events Environmental change Zebra mussels found in the Great lakes December 2 - Cyclone in Bangladesh leaves 5 million homeless - thousands dead December 7 - In Armenia an earthquake 6.9 on the Richter scale killed nearly 25.000... 1988- 1989 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events January January 7 - Akihito becomes Emperor of Japan following the death of Hirohito. The Heisei period begins January 8 - the Kegworth Air Disaster - A British Midland Boeing 737 crashes on approach to East Midlands Airport - 44 dead... 1989 and 1998 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. Events January January 1998 - A massive ice storm, caused by El Niño, strikes New England, southern Ontario and Quebec, resulting in widespread power failures, severe damage to... 1998- 2001 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. By strict interpretation of the Gregorian Calendar, 2001 is also the first year of the 21st century and the 3rd millenium. Popular culture, however, often views the year 2000 as holding this distinction. 2001 is also the year... 2001, and weakly in 1995 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. It was the first year of the International Decade of the Worlds Indigenous People (1995- 2005): http://www.unesco.org/culture/indigenous/ Events January January 1 Austria, Finland and Sweden enter the European Union Fred West, accused... 1995- 1996 is a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. Events Environmental change The invasive species Asian long-horned beetle is found in New York January 7 - One of the worst blizzards in American history hits eastern... 1996.

SOI

SOI index, 1876-2004

The Southern Oscillation (SO) is a global-scale seesaw in atmospheric pressure between The Republic of Indonesia, the worlds largest archipelago, is located between the Southeast Asian peninsula and Australia, between the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the most populous Muslim-majority nation in the world and the fourth most populous overall. It has had free elections since the Indonesian 1998... Indonesia/North Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is the sixth-largest country in the world, the only one to occupy an entire continent, and the largest in the region of Australasia/ Oceania. It also includes a number of secondary islands, the largest of which is Tasmania, an Australian State. Australia is... Australia, and the southeast Pacific. Its measure is through the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). The SOI is the normalised difference in surface pressure between Tahiti and Darwin.

ENSO

Regional impacts of warm ENSO episodes (El Niño).

Regional impacts of cold ENSO episodes. (La Niña)

ENSO (El Niño, Southern Oscillation) is a set of interacting parts of a single global system of climate fluctuations that come about as a consequence of Atmospheric circulation is the large-scale movement of air, and the means (together with the ocean circulation, which is smaller [1]) by which heat is distributed on the surface of the Earth. The large-scale structure of the atmospheric circulation varies from year to year but the basic structure remains... atmospheric circulation. ENSO is the most prominent known source of interannual variability in weather and climate around the world (~3 to 8 years), though not all areas are affected. Global ENSO has signatures in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. In the Pacific, during major warm events El Niño warming extends over much of the tropical Pacific and becomes clearly linked to the SOI intensity. While ENSO events are basically in phase between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, ENSO events in the Atlantic Ocean lag those in the Pacific by 12-to-18 months. Many of the countries most affected by ENSO events are developing countries within main continents (South America, Africa...), with economies that are largely dependent upon their agricultural and fishery sectors as a major source of food supply, employment, and foreign exchange. New capabilities to predict the onset of ENSO events in the three oceans can have global socio-economical impacts. While ENSO is a global and natural part of the Earth's climate, whether its intensity or frequency may change as a result of global warming is an important concern. Low-frequency variability has been evidenced. Interdecadal modulation of ENSO might exist.

Western Hemisphere Warm Pool

Study of climate records has found that about half of the summers after an El Niño have unusual warming in the Western Hemisphere Warm Pool (WHWP). This affects weather in the area and seems to be related to the The North Atlantic oscillation (NAO) is a complex climatic phenomenon in the North Atlantic Ocean (especially associated with fluctuations of climate between Iceland and the Azores). It is characterised predominantly by cyclical fluctuations of air pressure and changes in storm tracks across the North Atlantic. It is related to the... North Atlantic Oscillation.

Atlantic effect

An effect similar to El Niño sometimes takes place in the Atlantic Ocean, where water along equatorial Africa's The gigantic Gulf of Guinea is the part of the Atlantic southwest of Africa. The south coast of western Africa, to north of this gulf was historically called Upper Guinea. The west coast of southern Africa, to the east of this gulf, was historically called Lower Guinea. Today, the name... Gulf of Guinea becomes warmer and eastern Brazil becomes cooler and drier. This may be related to El Niño Walker circulation changes over South America.