T
he natural warm phenomenon known as El Niño alters the temperature of the water within the
east central zone of the Pacific Ocean along the coasts of Ecuador and Peru. Farmers and fishermen
are negatively affected by these changes in temperature and the modification of marine currents.
The nutrients normally present in the ocean decrease or disappear from along the coast because of the
increase in temperature. As the entire food chain deteriorates, other species also suffer the effects anddisappear from the ocean. In contrast, tropical marine species that live in warmer waters can flourish.
The phenomenon affects the weather and climate of the entire world. It tends to cause flooding, food
shortages, droughts, and fires in various locations.The Effects of El Niño
Normal conditions
Cold waters, rich in nutrients,
ascend from the bottom of
the sea and provide favorable
conditions for the growth of
phytoplankton, the basis of
the marine food chain.The phytoplankton promote
the normal development of
microorganisms, fish, and
other creatures.Various marine species die
off for lack of food or must
migrate to other zones.During El Niño,
the scarcity of cold water
debilitates the phytoplankton
population and alters the
marine food chain.KEYASIAAFRICAOCEANIAAMERICAASIAAFRICAOCEANIAAMERICALA NIÑAfrom June to August34 SURFACE FACTORS
Dry and
warmDry and
coldDryWarm
HumidWarm
HumidCold
HumidColdHumidATACAMA,
CHILE
Laguna Blanca
Salt Marsh
Latitude 22° 54 ́ S
Longitude 68° 12 ́ WSurface area
CauseYear1,200 square miles (3,000 sq km)
Floods caused by El Niño
anomalies
1999FLOODING
Abnormal flooding caused by
El Niño in the desert regions
of Chile and the later
evaporation of water leave
behind hexagonal deposits of
potassium nitrate.Areas Affected
EL NIÑOfrom December to FebruaryWEATHER AND CLIMATE 35