History of El Niño Events
- The 1982-1983 El Niño event caused widespread droughts in Australia, Indonesia, and Central America, as well as heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the United States and Peru.
- The 1997-1998 El Niño event caused severe droughts in Indonesia, Central America, and southern Africa, as well as heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the United States, Peru, and Brazil.
- The 2015-2016 El Niño event caused severe droughts in Ethiopia, southern Africa, and Indonesia, as well as heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the United States and South America.
- The 2019-2020 El Niño event caused severe droughts in southern Africa, Indonesia, and Central America and heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the United States and South America.
- The 1972-1973 El Niño event caused severe droughts in India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, as well as heavy rainfall and flooding in parts of the United States and Peru.
What are El Nino and La Nina? and their Effects
El Niño and La Niña are both weather patterns that occur in the Pacific Ocean and can have significant impacts on global weather patterns. El Niño is characterized by a warming of the ocean surface in the central and eastern Pacific, while La Niña is characterized by a cooling of the ocean surface in the same region. Both El Niño and La Niña can cause changes in precipitation patterns, wind patterns, and temperature, which can lead to droughts, floods, and other extreme weather events. These events can have significant impacts on agriculture, fishing, and other industries, as well as on human health and safety. Understanding the causes and effects of El Niño and La Niña is important for predicting and preparing for these events.
The normal duration of El Niño and La Niña events is typically around 9 to 12 months, but some events can last for longer, sometimes up to two years. The frequency of these events can vary greatly, with an average of every two to seven years. El Niño events tend to happen more frequently than La Niña events. It’s important to note that the frequency and duration of El Niño and La Niña events can vary greatly from year to year and are not fully predictable.