El Nino & La Nina

Question 1

What type of hazard is El Nino & La Nina?

Answer 1

Context hazard

Question 2

How long do they last and occur?

Answer 2

Happen every 2-7 years and last 1-2 years

Question 3

What are the conditions between Australia and South America in a normal year?

Answer 3

Low air pressure, warm water, rainfall in Australia
High air pressure, upwelling cold water, sunny in South America
Trade winds to west

Question 4

What are the conditions between Australia and South America in an El Nino year?

Answer 4

Low air pressure, warm water, rainfall, floods in South America
High air pressure, upwelling cold water, droughts, fires in Australia
Trade winds to east

Question 5

What are the conditions between Australia and South America in a La Nina year?

Answer 5

Low air pressure, warm water, rainfall, floods in Australia
High air pressure, upwelling cold water, droughts sunny in South America
Trade winds to west

Question 6

What are the impacts in other locations of El Nino?

Answer 6

Reduced rainfall in SE Asia, New Zealand, Australia, India - drought, crop failure, wildfires
Heavy rain in Cali, Mexico, Peru coast, Ecuador - flooding, mudslides
Suppression of cold current in East Pacific - devastates fish catches off SA West coast
Fewer severe hurricanes in USA & Caribbean as strong Atlantic winds preventing convection cells
USA tornadoes reduced
More cyclones in Hawaii & Polynesia but less in Australia
Southern Africa drought and floods in East Africa

Question 7

What are the impacts in other locations of La Nina?

Answer 7

Higher rainfall in Indonesia & Philippines
Lower rainfall in West coast of SA
Flooding in South Africa & SE Australia
Drought in Eastern Africa, Cali, South America
More hurricanes in Caribbean & USA