El Niño Phenomenon Alters Global Weather Patterns
El Niño, a climate phenomenon characterized by warm water moving east across the equatorial Pacific Ocean, occurs every 3 to 8 years and typically lasts about a year (source: slideshare.net). This event disrupts normal atmospheric circulations, weakening or reversing easterly trade winds and causing warm water to accumulate along the equatorial Pacific. The phenomenon has widespread impacts on global weather patterns, including increased precipitation in parts of South America and the western and southern United States, leading to severe flooding. Conversely, regions like Australia, Indonesia, and the Philippines experience drought conditions, while India faces reduced monsoons, which can result in significant crop damage. Source time: not specified.
