‘El Niño’ is an atmospheric phenomenon that occurs when the surface water of the Pacific Ocean increases in temperature and the winds blow weaker than normal. This phenomenon is repeated in periods of between 3 and 7 years. In addition, it causes intense rainfall, floods, episodes of droughts, forest fires and, as a consequence, food shortages and diseases. It also causes major changes in the climate on a global scale. The opposite phenomenon is known as ‘La Niña’. During this phase, the water is colder than normal and the easterly winds are stronger.
Impact on humans
‘El Niño’ and ‘La Niña’ have important consequences on the lives of people and ecosystems around the world. Thus, these climatic phenomena wreak havoc worldwide, the most affected areas being South America and some regions between Indonesia and Australia. Interactions between the ocean and the atmosphere alter the world’s climate, causing severe storms, floods, or droughts.
In addition, beyond impacting the climate, these climate changes have secondary consequences such as the rise in food prices, the increase in forest fires or the creation of additional policies.
Impact on the ecosystem
Ecosystems can be negatively or positively affected. In the southern United States, for example, during the fall and spring ‘El Niño’ tends to increase increased rainfall (although it sometimes causes destructive flooding).
‘La Niña’ causes a drier climate in the south, although it tends to be colder and wetter in the northwest. Also, although El Niño originates in the Pacific Ocean, it tends to reduce the number of hurricanes that form in the Atlantic Ocean. On the contrary, the La Niña phenomenon tends to increase the number of hurricanes in the Atlantic.
Likewise, ‘El Niño’ also affects food production. The change in ocean temperature and currents directly impact marine life. This hurts people who make a living fishing, as well as consumers who depend on certain fish for food. Of course, agriculture is also very dependent on the weather, so it could be affected due to rain.
