The lead character in the 2011 climate story was La Niña —the cool phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation—which chilled the central and eastern tropical Pacific at both the start and the end of the year. ... The La Niña that was underway at the start of 2011 was among the strongest in the historical record.
Was 2011 an El Niño or La Niña year?
Notice the cool water in 1995, 1998, 2007 and 2011, which were La Niña years . La Niña events occur after some (but not all) El Niños. Notice that El Niño and La Niña events vary considerably in strength.
Was there a El Niño in 2011?
Recent years when La Niña Modoki events occurred include 1973–1974, 1975–1976, 1983–1984, 1988–1989, 1998–1999, 2000–2001, 2008–2009, 2010–2011, and 2016–2017. The recent discovery of ENSO Modoki has some scientists believing it to be linked to global warming.
What years did El Niño occur?
The first recorded El Niño that originated in the central Pacific and moved toward the east was in 1986. Recent Central Pacific El Niños happened in 1986–87, 1991–92 , 1994–95, 2002–03, 2004–05 and 2009–10. Furthermore, there were “Modoki” events in 1957–59, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1968–70, 1977–78 and 1979–80.
Was there an El Niño in 2010?
In early 2010, water temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific were warmer than average, but a summertime reversal cooled the region off over the rest of the year.
Is La Niña year 2020?
The La Niña climate pattern is forecast to return this fall and last through the winter of 2021-22 , federal forecasters reported Thursday. ... The prediction center said this year’s La Niña (translated from Spanish as “little girl”) is likely to persist through the winter.
Is La Niña warm or cold?
La Nina refers to the periodic cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific. Typically, La Nina events occur every 3 to 5 years or so, but on occasion can occur over successive years. La Nina represents the cool phase of the El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.
When was the worst La Niña?
| Dissipated April 2012 | Damage Significant | Areas affected The Pacific Ocean and surrounding areas |
Is La Niña normal?
During a La Niña year, winter temperatures are warmer than normal in the South and cooler than normal in the North. La Niña can also lead to a more severe hurricane season. La Niña causes the jet stream to move northward and to weaken over the eastern Pacific.
Is La Niña wet or dry?
Where El Niño is wet, La Niña is dry . While El Niño conditions and their seasonal impacts look very different from normal, La Niña conditions often bring winters that are typical — only more so.
What are 2 effects of El Niño?
Severe drought and associated food insecurity, flooding, rains, and temperature rises due to El Niño are causing a wide range of health problems, including disease outbreaks, malnutrition, heat stress and respiratory diseases.
Are we El Niño or La Niña?
El Niño WATCH
Current climate state: ENSO phase is currently neutral or declining La Niña .
Does La Niña mean more rain?
Globally, La Niña often brings heavy rainfall to Indonesia, the Philippines, northern Australia and southern Africa. ... During La Niña, waters off the Pacific coast are colder and contain more nutrients than usual.
Will there be an El Nino in 2021?
The tropical Pacific has been ENSO-neutral since May 2021 , based on both oceanic and atmospheric indicators. Model predictions and expert assessment favor the continuation of the cool side of ENSO-neutral through September-November 2021 with 60% likelihood, and 40% likelihood for the re-emergence of La Niña conditions.
What is La Niña weather?
La Niña occurs when equatorial trade winds become stronger , changing ocean surface currents and drawing cooler deep water up from below. This results in a cooling of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. ... As a result, heavy rainfall can occur to the north of Australia.
What does La Niña winter mean?
A La Niña year occurs when there are abnormally cool water pools along the eastern Pacific . A typical La Niña winter brings dry conditions (and sometimes drought) to the southern tier of the U.S.; conversely, it brings cold and wet conditions (and sometimes heavy flooding) to the Pacific Northwest.
