Importance of El Nino

A name that we have all heard but that few of us know in depth.- El Niño is the name by which the set of phenomena that occur in the South Pacific region every eight years (sometimes less) and that affect the countries of South and Central America and even other regions of the hemisphere such as Australia.

The presence of El Niño phenomena has to do mainly with the development of warming patterns in the sea ​​breezes, elements that when they reach the coasts can generate important problems such as hurricanes or typhoons, among others. The same time, the effect reaches the tides and their displacements towards continental zones, which contributes to the generation of tsunamis or tidal waves. However, without having to reach that level of natural effects, El Niño influences the amount of precipitation, the increase in average humidity, changes in currents, etc.

The operation of the El Niño phenomenon and its effects on populations

One of the main characteristics of the El Niño phenomenon, officially investigated for the first time by meteorologist Jacob Bjerknes, is the increase in temperatures of the

Ocean currents that are located and move in the South Pacific region. These significant increases cause that when moving and displacing towards the coasts, the marine currents increase in turn profoundly the humidity of the regions they touch, also carrying with them a significant amount of rainfall that affects the inhabited areas on the coasts american.

On the other hand, the cool winds dissipate and warm currents win, which also have effects on marine fauna and on the possibilities of cultivation in tropical areas. But at the same time that it generates this in some regions of South America, it transforms the climate and the meteorology of Australia, increasing the temperatures of the area without increasing the humidity and contributing to drought, low rainfall and lack of pressure in the rivers that connect with the sea All these results directly affect the populations in terms of quality of life but also in the availability of natural flora and fauna.

The importance of El Niño in the context of climate change

Recognize the problem climate change It is of vital importance to begin to understand what effects it has on our planet and our life.

Although it is not yet clear whether the El Niño phenomenon is directly linked to climate change, it is clear that it can be one more element of the same because it presents several of the characteristics that denominate it: increase in temperatures, displacements of warm currents, alteration of the tides, floods or high rainfall in certain areas and droughts in others etc

El Niño appears as an important phenomenon to be studied and analyzed to get closer and better to understanding climate change and its effects.

Images: iStock. Jorge Villalba / olaser