• Question: WHY DID EL NINO START

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      Asked by JP to Helena, Gabriel, Cat? on 17 Mar 2016.
      • Photo: Cat Scott ?

        Cat Scott ? answered on 17 Mar 2016:

        Hi JP,

        El Nino is the name that people give to the warm part of a natural cycle that occurs in Pacific Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere. Because of this, it really affects people living in South America, Australia & New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.

        The whole cycle is very complex and is something that scientists are still trying to understand, but it involves changes to the wind patterns and circulation in the ocean and the air. To tell if an El Nino has started, scientists measure the average temperature in the Pacific Ocean near the equator – if the temperature is more than 0.5 degrees C above average then this is considered to be an El Nino.

      • Photo: Helena Quilter

        Helena Quilter answered on 18 Mar 2016:

        Hi JP! El Niño is caused by a shift in how warm water is distributed around the Pacific Ocean near the equator. El Niño can cause storms and flooding. The cycles typically last around 5 years and are followed by a cooler cycle called El Niña.

        We can tell if El Niño is happening by measuring the temperature of the Pacfic Ocean – if it’s half a degree warmer than normal we can say it’s El Niño. That might not sound like much but it takes a lot to warm all that water up!

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