What are El Niño and La Niña in simple words?

El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of what is known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. read more

El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of what is known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. The ENSO cycle is a scientific term that describes the fluctuations in temperature between the ocean and atmosphere in the east-central Equatorial Pacific (approximately between the International Date Line and 120 degrees West). read more

El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of what is known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. The ENSO cycle is a scientific term that describes the fluctuations in temperature between the ocean and atmosphere in the east-central Equatorial Pacific (approximately between the International Date Line (180°) and 120° West longitude. read more

Following an El Niño, an opposite phenomenon occurs, called La Niña. During La Niña, the eastern Pacific Ocean experiences cooler than normal temperatures around the equator. The effects of El Niño are strong and can wreak havoc on weather systems around the world. read more