El Niño and La Niña Climate Phenomena
Explore the causes, characteristics, and global impacts of El Niño and La Niña for Grade 12 Earth and Space Science.
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El Niño and La Niña Climate Phenomena
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Read each question carefully and provide detailed answers. Use your knowledge of Earth and Space Science to explain the complex interactions of El Niño and La Niña.
1. Which of the following best describes the primary oceanic condition during an El Niño event?
Stronger trade winds and cooler eastern Pacific waters.
Weaker trade winds and warmer eastern Pacific waters.
No change in trade winds but increased upwelling in the eastern Pacific.
Stronger westerly winds and cooler western Pacific waters.
2. La Niña is often associated with:
Increased rainfall in the southwestern United States.
Drought conditions in Australia and Indonesia.
Enhanced hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean.
Warmer than average winters in the northern United States.
3. During an El Niño event, the trade winds across the equatorial Pacific Ocean typically , allowing warm surface water to accumulate in the Pacific.
4. La Niña is characterized by unusually sea surface temperatures in the eastern equatorial Pacific, often leading to enhanced in regions like Southeast Asia and Australia.
5. Explain the concept of the Walker Circulation and how it is affected during both El Niño and La Niña events.
6. El Niño and La Niña are two phases of a larger climate pattern known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO).
True
False
7. During an El Niño event, upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water off the coast of Peru is significantly enhanced.
True
False
Match the climate phenomenon with its characteristic effect.
8. El Niño
a. Increased upwelling in the eastern Pacific
9. La Niña
b. Suppressed upwelling in the eastern Pacific
10. ENSO Neutral
c. Normal trade winds and ocean temperatures
11. Discuss two major global impacts of a strong El Niño event on weather patterns or ecosystems, providing specific examples.
12. How do scientists monitor and predict El Niño and La Niña events? What are some of the key indicators they observe?
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