Chapter 1
How Peruvian fishermen discovered El Niño
Chapter 2
The physical engine of the Pacific
Chapter 3
The global domino effect of weather
Chapter 4
The cool sibling and the ENSO cycle
Chapter 5
Watching the ocean from space and sea
Ch 4 · The cool sibling and the ENSO cycle
Quiz
What is the name of El Niño's sister phase, characterized by unusually cold Pacific waters?
diego La Niña reverses many of El Niño's weather patterns, bringing wet weather to Australia and dry conditions to the US.
diego La Niña
When the trade winds surge and push the warm away, The icy deep ocean rises up to play.
diego Between El Niño and La Niña lies a neutral phase where ocean temperatures are close to average.
Fun Fact
Hurricane boost: La Niña reduces wind shear in the Atlantic, making it much easier for powerful hurricanes to form and grow.
Quiz
What term describes the period when Pacific temperatures and winds are near their long-term averages?
Glossary
la niña (noun)
A periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific. Historically, this cold phase intensifies Atlantic hurricane activity, contributing to the record-breaking 2020 season.
A periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific. Historically, this cold phase intensifies Atlantic hurricane activity, contributing to the record-breaking 2020 season.