The Permanent El Nino Effect-Future Impacts on Global Climate Change

Michelle Dyer-Florida Weather Info Lady

Last week, we began to look into the impacts of El Nino and what might happen if this phenomenon were to turn into a permanent event. As we continue this study, we will see that there is still a wealth of information to be obtained. This week we will attempt to unravel this and try to make some sense of what is happening.

A Closer Look At El Nino

The phenomena known as El Nino and La Nina are alternating elements within a cyclical pattern of climate turbulence. This on-and-off cycle, is otherwise known by meteorologists as the “Southern Oscillation”. This warming and cooling of the ocean waters were first noticed by 16th century fishermen on the Pacific coast of South America. It, however, would take until the 1920s before such phenomena would ever be scientifically documented.

Since that time, there’s been a noticeable increase in this oscilating pattern. At first, scientists noticed, within the eastern Pacific, periodic occurrences every three to seven years. As we’ve moved from the 1970s, to the present day, El Nino and La Nina have been occurring with more frequency and intensity.

The General Effects of El Nino

We’ve looked at what this phenomenon is, now it’s time to look at it’s effects on our climate. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) makes the following statement: “The El Nino effect involves warmer-than-usual sea temperatures, great amounts of rainfall (in the northern hemisphere) and low atmospheric pressure.” Statement taken from Global Warming, El Nino, La Nina, And Climate Change

El Nino in History

Ongoing studies of our climate leave little doubt that weather patterns around the world are influenced by ocean surface temperatures. Up until recent times however, that impact was only speculation. In a book: called “El Nino in History”, written by author Cesar Caviedes, El nino related events are traced back hundreds of years. This publication lays out El Nino’s effect on such things as military battles, early explorers and even the sinking of the Titanic.. Cesar Caviedes says, “Until recently, the relationships between regional climates and weather patterns was unseen…” To read more about this, or to listen to podcasts on the subject of El Nino/La Nina, please Click Here.

Effects of Past El Ninos

When looking at past El Nino events, one must also focus on their subsequent effects on local climates. One of the most notable consequences of strong El Ninos are devastating tornados in Florida. According to the National Weather Service, “The 1982-83 El Nino was a record warm ENSO event.” As a result of this strong El Nino, the 1983 severe weather season was the most active in Florida history. In an opposite circumstance, the La Nina of 1988-89 was an extreme cool ENSO event, which caused the 1989 severe weather season to be one of the least active. To see more on this, go to this paper. For those aspiring to read a more indepth lay out of this issue, please go here.

Along with the strong El Nino of 1982-83, there was the 1997-98 INSO event. Just like the 1983 severe weather season, the 1998 Florida severe weather season was indeed very active. on February 22-23, 1998, there was a significant tornado outbreak which killed 42 people. To read more about this issue, please Click onto this page.