el niño a phenomenon with global ecological effects
TRANSCRIPT
El Niño
A phenomenon with global ecological effects
Contents
- Introduction
- History
- Basics
- El Niño & Southern Oscillation
- La Niña
- Ecological Effects
- Economical Effects
- Conclusion
Introduction
- Largest so far known disturbance of the global weather system
- First documented by Peruvian Sailors
- Occurs every 2 to 7 years
- Global impacts on Economy and Ecology
- Difficult to predict
Contents
- Introduction
- History
- Basics
- El Niño & Southern Oscillation
- La Niña
- Ecological Effects
- Economical Effects
- Conclusion
History
- First documented in 1567 by Peruvian Sailors
- Plenty of Data since the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores
- 1920‘s, Sir Gilbert Walker discovered Southern Oscillation [SO]
- 1960‘s, Jacob Bjerknes found link between El Niño & SO [ENSO]
History
- W.H. Quinn investigated intensity and frequency of El Niño Events
- Modern research with buoys and satellites
Contents
- Introduction
- History
- Basics
- El Niño & Southern Oscillation
- La Niña
- Ecological Effects
- Economical Effects
- Conclusion
Meteorological Basics
- Innertropical Convergence Zone [ITCZ]
- Trade Winds [Tropical Easterlies]
- Coriolis Force
Oceanographical Basics
- Thermocline- Transition zone
between surface and deep waters
- Rapid decline of water temperature
- Nutrient rich
Oceanographical Basics
- Upwelling- Winds drag surface water to the West- Rising of colder nutrient rich waters in
the East
Contents
- Introduction
- History
- Basics
- El Niño & Southern Oscillation
- La Niña
- Ecological Effects
- Economical Effects
- Conclusion
Southern Oscillation
- A see-saw effect
- Caused by a shifting of air masses
- Correlation between the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean:- Air pressure- Sea surface temperature- Water level
Normal Situation
El Niño
El Niño
- 4 Phases:
- Antecedent Conditions
- Onset Phase- Peak Phase- Dissipation
Stage
Contents
- Introduction
- History
- Basics
- El Niño & Southern Oscillation
- La Niña
- Ecological Effects
- Economical Effects
- Conclusion
La Niña
La Niña
- Increases normal climate conditions
- Heavier Monsoons in South East Asia
- Increasing number of Hurricanes in North America
- Causes less disaster than El Niño
- Sometimes called El Viejo, “The Old”
Contents
- Introduction
- History
- Basics
- El Niño & Southern Oscillation
- La Niña
- Ecological Effects
- Economical Effects
- Conclusion
Marine Ecosystem
- Thermocline is pushed down- Warm waters spread- Fewer nutrients rise- Fish die or move to colder waters- Tropical fish, favouring warm water, invade
Terrestrial Ecosystem
Contents
- Introduction
- History
- Basics
- El Niño & Southern Oscillation
- La Niña
- Ecological Effects
- Economical Effects
- Conclusion
Economical Effects
- South America- Flooding and Landslips,
destroying the infrastructure- Flood waves, demolishing
harbours and docks- Failing harvests, causing severe
famines- Weakening of Fish industry- Failing of the Guano Production
Economical Effects
- South East Asia- Failing of Monsoons leads to loss
of entire crops and famines- Dying of Rain Forests in Borneo- Reduction of Palm Oil Production
in Malaysia and Indonesia
Contents
- Introduction
- History
- Basics
- El Niño & Southern Oscillation
- La Niña
- Ecological Effects
- Economical Effects
- Conclusion
Conclusion
- Largest so far known disturbance of the global weather conditions
- Occurs every 2 to 7 years- Predictable only 1 year ahead- No proved link to greenhouse effect
and global warming- No direct impacts on the European
weather- Influence on economics world wide
“We have to stop to think of El Niño as an event, and start to think of it as
part of earth‘s breathing. It‘s as natural for the earth to have El Niño
as it is for a bell to ring.“
George Philander,
University of Princeton
Thank you
for your kind attention!
