Video Guide 5 El Niño
Dr. M Mustoe Geography

Corriente del Niño " The Current of the Christ Child" comes every few years at irregular intervals. The intensity of these events also vary. Their have been strong El Niño's during: 1891, 1925, 1940-41, 1965, 1972-73, 1982-83, 1991-92..........1997-?. La Niña (the girl child) is just the opposite of an El Niño. In this case central and eastern Pacific sea temperatures at the surface fall lower than normal. This happens because as southeast trades become very strong warm waters from the surface are sent westward bringing in colder water. La Niña could be an indicator that an El Niño will be occurring.

Concepts/ Places:
The Southern Oscillation
Water Temperature
Prevailing Winds
Anchovie Fisheries
Peru
California
Washington
India
NOAA
Hadley Cell
High Pressure
Low Pressure
Jet Stream
Humboldt Current
South Equatorial Current

Impacts, Climate:
The Pacific Northwest (dry climate)
California (Wet and Rainy)
The Midwest (Flooding)

Human Impacts (hazards):
Fisheries
Fires
Slides
Floods