The cycle begins when warm water in the western tropical pacific ocean shifts eastward along the. This is described as warmerthannormal sea surface temperatures in the same area of the pacific ocean. It is mainly a tropical event but its impact is global. This event is associated with adverse effects on fishing, agriculture, and local weather from ecuador. C for the oceanic nino index oni 3 month running mean of ersst. Observations of the tropical pacific ocean during a normal year the national oceanographic and atmospheric administration noaa maintains several laboratories around the country for specialized atmospheric and oceanic research. For millions of people across the subregion, particularly children, the impact on food security has been catastrophic. The cycle begins when warm water in the western tropical pacific ocean shifts eastward along the equator. Mar 10, 2014 this video demonstrates how warm water in the central pacific can influence prevailing pressure and precipitation patterns across the ocean basin. Geofile online april 2008 569 paul warburton impacts of. Examine the potential for a larger cerf to play a strategic role in providing early funding in slowonset crises by responding to early warning systems and risk indicators in a more systematic and formalised manner. These pressure changes alter the strength of the trade winds. The southern oscillation refers to changes in sea level air pressure patterns in the southern pacific ocean between tahiti and darwin, australia. Floods and mosquitoborne disease outbreaks in south america.
Compared with other climate phenomena, enso is perhaps the one whose occurrence. A publication of the university corporation for atmospheric research pursuant to national oceanic and atmospheric administration noaa award no. Enso has been drawing great scientific attention in many international research programs. The christ child in oceanography and climatology, the anomalous appearance, every few years, of unusually warm ocean conditions along the tropical west coast of south america. Nina the temperature of the upper ocean is lower than normal, causing ssh to. Water near the equator warms up to a higher temperature, which causes the air.
This timeseries demonstrates that events occur irregularly with various sizes and durations. Epic drought and mass migrations in southern africa. Rapid drought impact assessment food and agriculture. In this phase of the oscillation, the pool of warm water in the pacific near south america is often at its warmest about christmas.