El Ni̱o, Pacific Ocean Temperature, 2004
Image shows the current El Nino's split personality. Warm waters develop in the central Pacific Ocean. In this case, the warm water anomalies tend to stay in place in the central Pacific. The El Ni̱o phenomenon is thought to be triggered when the steady westward blowing trade winds weaken and even reverse direction. This change in the winds allows a large mass of warm water (the red and white areas) that is normally located near Australia to move eastward along the equator until it reaches the coast of South America. The displacement of so much warm water affects evaporation, where rain clouds form and, consequently, alters the typical atmospheric jet stream patterns around the world. Jet streams shown with green and pink bands. Trade winds shown by arrows.
Size: 4500px × 3038px
Photo credit: © Photo Researchers / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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