The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently announced the resurgence of El Niño in the Pacific Ocean after a gap of seven years. El Niño, which means “little boy” in Spanish, is a climate pattern that occurs every 2 to 7 years along the equatorial Pacific Ocean. This essay explores the causes of El Niño, its impact on weather patterns, and its significance for countries like India.
Understanding El Niño:
El Niño occurs when the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is in its active phase. During its neutral phase, trade winds blow westward, transporting warm water from South America to Asia. However, during El Niño, these trade winds weaken or reverse, leading to westerly winds. This change causes warm water masses to move into the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean and reach the western coast of the Americas.
Impact on Weather Patterns:
- Deviation of Pacific Jet Stream: El Niño disrupts the Pacific jet stream, causing it to shift southward from its neutral position. This alteration in the jet stream’s path can result in unusual weather patterns around the globe.
- Extreme Weather Events: El Niño has historically been associated with severe heatwaves, floods, and droughts worldwide. The warming of ocean waters can lead to heightened rainfall in some areas and extended dry spells in others.
- Climate Change Amplification: Climate change can exacerbate the impacts of El Niño. Areas already experiencing above-average temperatures may face record-breaking heatwaves during El Niño events.
El Niño and India:
- Drought Correlation: India has experienced 18 drought years in the past century, with 13 of them occurring during El Niño events. This suggests a correlation between El Niño and poor rainfall in India.
- Increasing Frequency: Between 1900 and 1950, there were 7 El Niño years, but from 1951 to 2021, there were 15 El Niño years. This indicates an increasing frequency of El Niño events over time.
- Recent Trends: Since the year 2000, there have been five El Niño events, occurring approximately every 4-5 years on average.
Important Points:
- El Niño: 🌊🌡️
- Climate pattern in the Pacific Ocean
- Occurs every 2 to 7 years
- Causes unusual warming in the central and east-central Pacific
- Impact of El Niño: 🌍🔥💧
- Disrupts weather patterns globally
- Associated with heatwaves, floods, and droughts
- Climate change can worsen the effects
- El Niño and India: 🌧️🇮🇳
- Correlation between El Niño and poor rainfall in India
- 13 out of 18 drought years in India were associated with El Niño
- Increasing frequency of El Niño events over time
- Recent trends: 📆🔄
- El Niño event in 2023 marks the fifth since 2000
- Develops approximately every 4-5 years on average
Why In News
The return of El Niño in the Pacific Ocean has been confirmed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the United States, marking its resurgence after a span of seven years. NOAA’s announcement brings renewed attention to the potential impact of El Niño on global weather patterns and ecosystems.
MCQs about The Revival of El Niño
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What is the primary cause of El Niño?
A. Ocean currents
B. Trade winds
C. Solar radiation
D. Volcanic activity
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What global weather events are associated with El Niño?
A. Tornadoes and blizzards
B. Heatwaves, floods, and droughts
C. Hurricanes and typhoons
D. Hailstorms and thunderstorms
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What is the significance of El Niño for India?
A. Increased cyclone activity
B. Higher average temperatures
C. Poor rainfall and droughts
D. Reduced sea levels
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