el nino

What are El Niño and La Niña?

The terms El Niño and La Niña refer to periodic changes in Pacific Ocean sea surface temperatures[1] that have impacts on weather all over the globe. In the Pacific Ocean near the equator, temperatures in the surface ocean are normally very warm in the western Pacific and cool in the eastern Pacific[2]. This helps to generate heavy rains over southeastern Asia and northern Australia and keeps parts of Pacific coastal South America relatively dry[2].

How much do landslides cost the U.S. in terms of monetary losses?

Monetary losses from landslides come from the destruction of infrastructure, homes and businesses; loss of life; disruption of transportation routes; disruption and contamination of water supplies; and the difficulty of both removing and stabilizing landslide material. Even a small landslide that damages a few homes can cost millions of dollars. Losses from landslides in the United States were estimated in 1980 to exceed $1 billion per year. More recently, the U.S.

Trans-Niño Years Could Foster Tornado Super Outbreaks

Researchers are trying to determine if Trans-Niño years, which mark the onset or ebbing of El Niño and La Niña, are the main culprits behind deadly super-outbreaks of tornadoes. Fueled by a powerfully interconnected global atmospheric system, as sea-surface temperatures in the Pacific shift the Jet Stream's course during Trans-Niño years, the favorable conditions for violent weather in the United States are created. Follow as EARTH Magazine explores the implications this study has for citizens of tornado alley in the September issue of EARTH Magazine.
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