El Niño and La Niña are different temperature fluctuations in the ocean. El Niño typically brings unusually warm ocean temperatures and La Niña bring unusually cool ocean temperatures. These El Niño/La Niña episodes last about nine to twelve months, but some can last for years.
Where do these occur?
El Niño is responsible for the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific that affects the weather all over the world. La Niña affects the east-central Equatorial Pacific, but also affects the weather in the world.
What causes them?
The result of El Niño and La Niña is from the interaction between the atmosphere in the tropical Pacific and the surface of the ocean. Changes in the atmosphere impact the ocean currents and temperatures and changes in the ocean impact the atmosphere and climate around the world. La Niña is formed by a buildup of unusually cool subsurface waters in the tropical Pacific.
How are these related to ocean temperature?
El Niño creates warmer-than-usual water in the ocean and pushes it around in the central areas of the world. La Niña creates cooler-than-usual water and pushes it around in northern and southern parts of the world. El Niño and La Niña are just different surface water temperature shifts that affect the land, sea, and sky.
How are these related to fishing?
El Niño typically brings warm ocean water and therefore warm water fish move towards the north. The cold water species move north and deeper into the water, and schools of fish that live at the surface tend to disperse and move into deeper waters. This affects fishing because the schools of fish move away from the fishing areas causing fisheries to catch less fish than usual.
How often do these occur? (What is the length of their cycle?)
It varies in how often these temperature changes come. They can come every two to six years and they can last up to two years at a time.
How do we know one is happening?
In California, we know an El Niño is happening when there is a heavy downfall of rain. Experts know when one is happening by buoys and different detection systems. Also, when there is a decrease of fish that is normally caught, it may be the result of an El Niño,
What are the effects here in California?
El Niño can cause severe weather changes in California or it can cause very minor changes. It also affects the jet stream which also influences rain patterns. The jet stream determines where rain will fall and how heavy or light the rain will be. El Niño may either do good here in California by bringing rain in a serious drought or do bad and become destructive with different rain patterns and winds.
Where do these occur?
El Niño is responsible for the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific that affects the weather all over the world. La Niña affects the east-central Equatorial Pacific, but also affects the weather in the world.
What causes them?
The result of El Niño and La Niña is from the interaction between the atmosphere in the tropical Pacific and the surface of the ocean. Changes in the atmosphere impact the ocean currents and temperatures and changes in the ocean impact the atmosphere and climate around the world. La Niña is formed by a buildup of unusually cool subsurface waters in the tropical Pacific.
How are these related to ocean temperature?
El Niño creates warmer-than-usual water in the ocean and pushes it around in the central areas of the world. La Niña creates cooler-than-usual water and pushes it around in northern and southern parts of the world. El Niño and La Niña are just different surface water temperature shifts that affect the land, sea, and sky.
How are these related to fishing?
El Niño typically brings warm ocean water and therefore warm water fish move towards the north. The cold water species move north and deeper into the water, and schools of fish that live at the surface tend to disperse and move into deeper waters. This affects fishing because the schools of fish move away from the fishing areas causing fisheries to catch less fish than usual.
How often do these occur? (What is the length of their cycle?)
It varies in how often these temperature changes come. They can come every two to six years and they can last up to two years at a time.
How do we know one is happening?
In California, we know an El Niño is happening when there is a heavy downfall of rain. Experts know when one is happening by buoys and different detection systems. Also, when there is a decrease of fish that is normally caught, it may be the result of an El Niño,
What are the effects here in California?
El Niño can cause severe weather changes in California or it can cause very minor changes. It also affects the jet stream which also influences rain patterns. The jet stream determines where rain will fall and how heavy or light the rain will be. El Niño may either do good here in California by bringing rain in a serious drought or do bad and become destructive with different rain patterns and winds.