el niño a phenomenon with global ecological effects

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!