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El Nino

We've received so many questions about El Nino we decided to share them with El Nino expert, Dr. David Battisti from the University of Washington. Here's what we discovered…

    Say what?  Although it's popular to call it "El Nino," scientists call it ENSO. Say that three times fast, "ENSO, ENSO, ENSO." ENSO stands for: El Nino/Southern Oscillation. ENSO is more accurate than El Nino because it reminds us of all the changes surrounding the event - in the atmosphere and the ocean. It is also much easier to say!

    What is an El Nino? It is a series of events that begin in the Pacific Ocean.  These events cause major weather changes around the world. Lots of rain in some places. Not enough rain in others. Plus other world wide changes.

    So, what's the big deal, why should we care about studying ENSO events? Dr. Battisti explains, "ENSO events have profound effects on countries and economies around the Pacific rim. It affects the whole world - everything from certain diseases in people to ecosystems, from agriculture to big businesses. The 1982-83 ENSO is the largest ever recorded. It killed 2000 people and caused 13 billion dollars in damages. This year's event will be almost as big as the one in 1982. So, the more we know, the better we can prepare for future ENSO events."

    Is it caused by pollution or something people have done? No, an ENSO event is natural series of changes in ocean currents, winds, and storms. An El Nino happens every 2 to 7 years.

To compare a normal year with an ENSO (El Nino) year print and use our OceanActivity sheets.

FISHIN' FOR FACTSBACK TO THE SEABED

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