How do El Niño and La Niña change global weather?
Quick Answer
They are opposite phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation that shift Pacific Ocean temperatures and alter rainfall and storm patterns around the world.
The Full Story
El Niño happens when unusually warm surface water spreads across the central and eastern tropical Pacific, while La Niña is marked by cooler-than-average water there. These changes alter atmospheric circulation, which can shift jet streams, rainfall belts and storm tracks far beyond the Pacific. As a result, some regions get wetter, drier, hotter or cooler than normal. The cycle typically unfolds over several months and has major effects on agriculture, drought risk and hurricane activity.
Key Facts
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