What are the differences between El Nino and La Nina?
The El Nino and La Nina are part of the global climate system which occurs when the Pacific Ocean and the atmosphere above it change from their neutral ('normal') state for several seasons. Here, we are giving the differences between El Nino and La Nina on the basis of meaning, Temperature at Sea Surface, Pressure, Trade winds, Seasons, Coriolis force, Ocean waters in the Pacific and cyclone for general awareness.
Difference between El Nino and La Nina
| El Nino |
La Nina |
| Meaning: Derived from the Spanish term which represents “little boy” |
Meaning: Derived its name from the Spanish term which represents ‘little girl’. |
| Temperature at Sea Surface: It is warmer than normal sea-surface temperatures. It is a warming of the Pacific Ocean between South America and the International Date Line, centred directly on the Equator, and moves towards several degrees of latitude to either side of the equator. |
Temperature at Sea Surface: It is cooler than normal sea-surface temperatures. It originated when cooler than usual ocean temperatures occur on the equator between South America and the International Date Line. |
| Pressure: It is laden with high air surface pressure in the western Pacific. |
Pressure: It contain low air surface pressure in the eastern Pacific |
| Trade winds: It originated when tropical Pacific Ocean trade winds die out and ocean temperatures become unusually warm. |
Trade winds: It occurs when the trade winds blow unusually hard and the sea temperature become colder than normal. |
| Seasons: It has great impact on season pattern because it makes warmer and drier than average in the Northwest of pacific during winters and wetter in Southwest of pacific and experience reduced snowfalls. |
Seasons: Winters are wetter and cause above-average precipitation across the Northwest of pacific and drier and below average precipitation in South west of pacific. |
| Coriolis force: It decreases in the strength of the Coriolis force. |
Coriolis force: It increases in the strength of the Coriolis force. |
| Ocean waters in Pacific: Warm water approaches the coasts of South America which results in reduced upwelling of nutrient-rich deep water impacting impacts on the fish populations. |
Ocean waters in Pacific: Cold water causes increased upwelling of deep cold ocean waters numbers of drought occurrence, with more nutrient-filled eastern Pacific waters. |
| Cyclones: Wind speed is low. |
Cyclones: It had a greater tendency to trigger intense tropical cyclones as wind direction changes pilling up water between Indonesia and nearby areas as winds from Africa onwards gets blocked. |
| Effects: Heavy rains in Ecuador and Peru; Heavy rains in southern Brazil but drought in north East Brazil; Drought in Zimbabwe, Mozambique, South Africa, Ethiopia; Warm winter in the northern half of the United States and southern Canada. Drought, Scant rains off Asia including India, Indonesia, and Philippines ;Coral bleaching worldwide; Drought in eastern Australia
|
Effects: Causes drought in Ecuador and Peru. Created low temperature, high Pressure in Eastern Pacific. Heavy floods in Australia; High Temperature in Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, Off coast Somalia and good rains in India. |
How does El Nino and La Nina impact on Indian Weather?
El Nino and La Nina have now established themselves as the integral part of the global climate system. They are basically famous for creating oscillating weather patterns. It is a recurrent phenomenon with an average return period of 41/2 years, but can recur as little as 2 or as much as 10 years apart. Such events have occurred for millennia, and can be expected to continue to occur in the future.
