Effects of El Niño
The disintegration of a major convective cell like the Walker cell has very major implications for the entire atmospheric circulation of the planet. Here is a list:
- Oceanographic effects
- Upwelling ceases in western and central Pacific
- Upwelling becomes warm in eastern Pacific due to thermocline displacement
- 1982-83: SSTs at Peru increased by 4 degrees C.
- 1986-87: warm water only flowed back to 170 degrees W and only warmed the sea there by 1 degrees C
- Climatic and meteorological effects
- Peruvian and Ecuadorian deserts bloom - torrential rains
- 1982-83: torrential storms throughout southwest US
- 1982-83: Australia's worst drought this century - I was caught in the bush fires - Australian effects are described here
- Enhanced rainfall over the central Pacific
- Drought in Australia, Southern Africa, Soviet Union, Northeastern Brazil and Central America
- In California, either wet or drought conditions
Wet in 1940-41, 82-83, 91-92. Dry 1986-87. Depends on how far the ENSO-related rainfall extends east.
- Various other worldwide precipitation anomalies, both in summer and winter.
- Biological effects
- Damage to
coral life, which has still not recovered from the 1982-83 el Niño.
- Damage to
fish life. Coastal fish suffer from decreased salinity and increased turbidity caused by the increased rainfall. Equally, as already described, the fish populations off South America fall as there is no longer nutritious upwellings of cold water.
- Damage to
bird life.
- Water snakes, bananas, and coconuts arrive at Peru on currents from equatorial forests
A table describing the effects of the 1982-83 El Niño; in turns of deaths and money is provided here.
The links between El Niño and other phenomena are called teleconnections. Their causes are the least understood factor of ENSO, but are thought to involve the upper-atmosphere jet streams. The west Pacific convection pumps vast quantities of air and humidity directly into the course of these currents, and they must move to avoid it.
Previous: measurement and quantification of El Niño
Next: current research on El Niño
