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Overview
In this section you will find materials that support the implementation of EarthComm, Section 8: El Niño and the Ocean Circulation.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze data by comparing and contrasting a data set of sea surface temperatures during a normal year with a data set of an El Niño year.
- Interpret data on maps of the Pacific Ocean to explain how sea surface temperatures vary during an El Niño event.
- Analyze and interpret data from a remote-sensing satellite to determine the extent and duration of the 1997–1998 El Niño event.
Inquiring Further
- To learn more about the technology used to study oceanic-atmospheric interactions, specifically TOPEX/Poseidon and TAO, visit the following web sites:
Ocean Surface Topography From Space, NASA
Understand how continuous data from satellites like TOPEX/Poseidon help scientists understand and foresee the effects of the changing oceans on climate and on catastrophic climate events such as El Niño.
TOPEX/Poseidon Educational Outreach, University of Texas at Austin, Center for Space Research
Learn more about the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite, how it collects data, and what has been learned from this important mission.
TAO Project, NOAA
Learn more about the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean Project, how it collects data, and what has been learned.
- To learn more about La Niña, visit the following web sites:
La Niña Page, NOAA
Includes links to general La Niña information, such as climate data for past La Niña events, forecasts, and the impacts of La Niña.
What is La Niña, NOAA
Includes color animations comparing La Niña, El Niño, and "normal" conditions, a review of the impacts that La Niña has had on the global climate, and links to further information.
El Niño/La Niña Home, NOAA
Includes links to information on ENSO forecasts, an "expert assessment" (updated weekly), ENSO figures (updated weekly), and a list of FAQ. Also includes an online tutorial which contains numerous color images.
Resources
To learn more about this topic, visit the following web sites:
El Niño and non- El Niño Conditions
El Niño Theme Page, NOAA
Contains links to cover a wide range of topics, including definitions of El Niño and La Niña, impacts of El Niño, predicting El Niño, 3-D animations of El Niño temperatures, and information on finding El Niño data.
NOAA’s El Niño Page, NOAA
Contains an image of current sea-surface temperature anomalies which is updated regularly. Site also contains links to El Niño images and information, including a list of El Niño-related web sites.
Past El Niño (ENSO) Events, NOAA
ENSO events differ in their strength, coverage, and seasonality, there isn't unanimous agreement on what constitutes and ENSO event. NOAA contains a list of years broadly agreed on by researchers.
The 2015-2016 El Niño, World Meteorological Organization
Animation during an El Nino event about what to expect.
The 2015-2016 El Niño a Historical Perspective, NOAA
Learn about the temperature, precipitation, and drought outlooks from this El Nino event.
The Southern Oscillation
El Niño/La Niña Home, NOAA
Includes links to information on ENSO forecasts, an "expert assessment" (updated weekly), ENSO figures (updated weekly), and a list of FAQ. Also includes an online tutorial which contains numerous color images.
El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), NOAA
Information on the science behind ENSO, current ocean/atmosphere conditions, impacts of ENSO on climate, forecasts, current research, and links to educational resources.
The Equatorial Pacific and El Niño
TOGA-TAO and the 1991-93 El Niño-Southern Oscillation Event, McPhaden, M.J., NOAA/PMEL
Examines data collected by the TOGA-TAO program. Includes color data images.
Cause and Effect - El Niño
Coastal Impacts of El Niño, USGS
Focuses on the impacts of El Niño, including coastal erosion, flooding, landslides, storms, and climate change. Click on link to open the article of interest.
The Story of El Niño - Science on a Sphere, NOAA
Learn about this phenomenon and its impacts in this movie created by the Aquarium of the Pacific.
Impacts, Predictions, and Regional Benefits, NOAA
Further information on the impacts of El Niño, such as El Niño and tornado occurrences, El Niño and hurricane frequency, coral reef bleaching, El Niño and marine fish and birds, and more.
El Niño and La Niña: Effect on Phytoplankton and Fish- Science on a Sphere, NOAA
Learn how satellite data are being used to understand fish distributions and why some fisheries suddenly collapse.
El Niño Sea-Level Rise Wreaks Havoc in California's San Fransico Bay Region, USGS
Looks at the impact of the 1997-1998 El Niño event on the Bay area. Site includes damage photos, sea level data, upwelling images, and an explanation of Kelvin waves and their impact.
El Niño Theme Page, NOAA
Details the impact of El Niño on the U.S. and world.