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El Niño 101 | National Geographic
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El Niño 101 | National Geographic

What is El Niño and Its Impact?

Understanding El Niño

  • El Niño is described as a natural force of nature that causes significant climate changes and natural disasters, affecting regions from Alaska to South America.
  • The phenomenon occurs when surface water temperatures in the Pacific Ocean rise, leading to complex weather patterns. The term "El Niño," meaning "the Blessed Child" in Spanish, was coined by 19th-century South American fishermen who noticed warmer waters during Christmas time.
  • An El Niño event typically happens every 2 to 7 years when normal East-to-West trade winds weaken, causing warm water to move eastward instead of westward.

Effects on Marine Life and Fisheries

  • The warming of ocean waters during an El Niño event blocks the upwelling of nutrient-rich waters, which negatively impacts marine life. Fish migrate to cooler waters, leading to decreased fish populations and suffering fisheries in Central and South America.

Land Impacts During El Niño Events

  • The most noticeable effects of El Niño are felt on land, particularly in the Western United States and Central/South America. Increased storms, rainfall, floods, loss of life and property occur alongside a rise in vector-borne diseases like malaria.

Global Consequences

Video description

El Niño is a series of complex weather patterns that occurs every two to seven years. It causes drastic changes in weather that can lead to billions of dollars in damages, high death tolls, and disease. Find out what causes El Niño, how it can affect you, and why it is so hard to predict it. ➡ Subscribe: http://bit.ly/NatGeoSubscribe ➡ Get More 101 Videos: http://bit.ly/NatGeo101 About National Geographic’s 101 Series: Explore and experience the forces that shape the world around us. Get More National Geographic: Official Site: http://bit.ly/NatGeoOfficialSite Facebook: http://bit.ly/FBNatGeo Twitter: http://bit.ly/NatGeoTwitter Instagram: http://bit.ly/NatGeoInsta About National Geographic: National Geographic is the world's premium destination for science, exploration, and adventure. Through their world-class scientists, photographers, journalists, and filmmakers, Nat Geo gets you closer to the stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible. El Niño 101 | National Geographic https://youtu.be/d6s0T0m3F8s National Geographic https://www.youtube.com/natgeo