El Niño Worksheet

Read or Print: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/brochures/climate/El_NinoPublic.pdf

1. Where does the term El Niño come from and what does it mean?

2. The term El Niño now refers to both a coupled oceanic and atmospheric phenomenon. This
phenomenon is characterized by what four things (summarize in your own words)

3. What does the term ENSO refer to?

4. What oceanic and atmospheric conditions occur during a La Niña?

5. How often to El Niño events occur and how long do they generally last?

6. What are the effects of El Niño in California and across the southern states?

7. What are the effects of El Niño in the Pacific Northwest?

8. What is the effect of El Niño on both Pacific hurricanes (Typhoons) and Atlantic hurricanes?

9. What are the effects of La Niña during winter in Central North America?

10. What is the effect of La Niña on both Pacific hurricanes (Typhoons) and Atlantic hurricanes?

11. What does TAO stand for?

12. What is the primary climate indicator of El Niño events?