El Niño. Length Non-El Niño - 5 to 10 years El Niño - 1 to 3 years Equatorial Pacific in El Niño 20% of the time!

El Niño

Length•Non-El Niño - 5 to 10 years

•El Niño - 1 to 3 years•Equatorial Pacific in El Niño 20% of the time!

Satellite Technology

•TOPEX/Poseidon•Jason

1997-98 Event

Changes

•Warmer water•Atmospheric pressure•Prevailing winds

Walker Cells 1998 Event

La Niña•Basically the opposite of El Niño

•Cooler water in Pacific•Opposite weather events

Effects

Hurricane Season

Atlantic Eastern Pacific

Avg. El Niño Avg.

Avg. El Niño Avg.

Named storms 9.4 7.1 16,7 17.6

Hurricanes 5.8 4.0 9.8 10.0

Intense Hurricanes

2.5 1.5 4.8 5.5

Causes

•Much debate on causes•No clear understanding