Definitions:

El Nio - Unusually warm surface water temperatures in the Pacific ocean caused by weak or reversed direction trade winds.
La Nia - Unusually cold surface water temperatures in the Pacific ocean caused by strong easterly trade winds.

Strange phenomenon occur during an El Nio and La Nia like...

Brush fires caused by drought in Texas (La Nia)

Increased Tropical Storms (La Nia)

Hurricane Floyd was HUGE! (1999 - La Nia)

Causing devastating floods in Australia (2010-2011 La Nia)

Peruvian anchovy populations declined (El Nio)

More tornadoes through tornado alley?

NO!!!
Scientists have found no significant correlation between El Nio and La Nia weather patterns and increased tornadoes.

What causes an El Nio?

What causes an El Nio?

What causes a La Nia?

Strong trade winds blow surface water towards east, creating colder surface temperatures off South American coast.

Sea surface anomalies associated with El Nio

SST differences between El Nio and La Nia

QUIZ! Which is which Normal, El Nio, La Nia?

A

Were youre predictions correct?

How can we predict an El Nio or La Nia event?

Need measurements to make predictions

NOAA drifting buoys

Measures... temperature currents winds

Satellites
Instruments on satellites measure wind, waves, temperature of the sea surface, ocean color, ocean surface currents, and tides.

TOPEX/Poseidon (1992)

TOPEX/Poseidon (T/P) helps predict El Nio and La Nia

Videos
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SR5VPAqVQBw El Nino explanation video 3min http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEAv-9TZktY La Nina explanation video 3.5min http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWTucpsClLc Austin newscast in January talking about Australia flooding 2min http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5x8dJ57xkk Texas weatherman predictions for this year from July 2010. about 3min http://esminfo.prenhall.com/science/geoanimations/animations/26_NinoNin a.html All three animations