La Nina and El Nino
As the ocean surface temperature changes in response to atmospheric conditions, it modifies the weather patterns periodically. El Nino (the warm phase) and La Nina (the cold phase) are two different phases. These extreme phases are called the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. La Nina usually occurs after El Nino, which warms the surface of the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean.
El Nino is related to the warming of the central and eastern parts of the Pacific Ocean, while La Nina causes the reverse effects with a sustained cooling of the sea surface in these areas. El Nino contributes to more eastern and central Pacific hurricanes, while La Nina causes fewer hurricanes in Atlantic regions.
Triple Dip La Nina
La Nina (‘Little Girl‘ in Spanish) is a natural and periodic weather pattern that occurs due to fluctuating ocean temperatures in one particular part of the world, namely the east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean. It is the cyclic process of cooling sea surface temperature in the central and eastern Pacific Oceans situated in the equatorial region. This cooling effect results in unique patterns of tropical wind circulation, atmospheric pressure, and rainfall, causing significant changes in weather and climate. The unusual cooling of seawater causes less water evaporation so the air above becomes dryer, cooler, and denser.
This dense air doesn’t develop into storms and causes less rainfall in certain parts of the world and more rainfall in other parts. This natural event typically occurs in a cycle of five to seven years and lasts for about three years. That is why it is called triple-dip La Nina. La Nina gives rise to stronger ocean winds that intensify during July and August, affecting temperature and rainfall patterns. This leads to storms, drought, and flood-like situations.
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