What is ENSO?
The acronym ENSO stands for El Niño/Southern Oscillation, a phenomenon in which changes in atmospheric and oceanic conditions result in major shifts in weather patterns, especially in equatorial regions. ENSO is a more appropriate title, as opposed to simply El Niño, because it emphasizes the coupling between the ocean and atmosphere. The Southern Oscillation occurs when trade winds diminish and then reverse due to a change in atmospheric pressure. Under normal conditions, persistent trade winds draw huge amounts of water westward along the equator, creating a warm, deep "pool" of water on the western side of the basin. As the winds weaken, or even reverse, during an ENSO phase, the equatorial currents slow and allow warmer than normal water to accumulate on the eastern side of the Pacific. These warm waters generally arrive around Christmas time giving the name of the current "Current of the Christ Child" or in Spanish, "El Niño."
You might also like to view...
Discuss Walther’s law and its application to determine marine transgressions and regressions. What will be an ideal response?
In the following features, what are the depositional shoreline features related to beach drift and longshore currents?
a. Spits b. Baymouth bar c. Tombolo d. All of the above e. both b and c
How can the orientation of transform faults provide information about the direction of plate motion?
A) Transform faults are oriented perpendicular to the direction of plate motion. B) Transform faults radiate out from the rift zone located in the center. C) Transform faults are parallel to the direction of plate motion. D) Transform faults are parallel to convergent boundaries.
Which waves indicate the most extensive shadow? Why?
A. S waves-because they cannot travel through the liquid outer core B. P waves-because they cannot travel through the solid inner core C. S waves-because they cannot travel through the solid inner core D. P waves-because they cannot travel through the liquid outer core