El Niño Isn’t Just Ocean Warming

El Niño–Southern Oscillation cycles every two to seven years.

El Niño warms surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific.

La Niña cools surface waters in the same ocean region.

The Southern Oscillation is a change in atmospheric pressure.

Trade winds push warm water west, causing cooler water to rise.

Blue sky with scattered white clouds over the tropical Pacific.

Storm clouds and rain reflect ENSO's weather impacts.

El Niño and La Niña events occur every two to seven years.

Each event usually lasts about one year, sometimes longer for La Niña.

El Niño causes brief spikes in global surface temperatures worldwide.

La Niña causes short-term global surface cooling instead.

ENSO affects weather far beyond the tropical Pacific Ocean.

Scientists still study how ocean and air interact in ENSO feedback.

These cycles of warming and cooling shape global climate patterns.