| ENSO (El Niño-Southern
Oscillation) refers to changes of the entire Pacific climate
system. This slide displays the Pacific Ocean during a normal period. The
trade winds continually push the water and air from the east to the west.
The sea level on the west side of the Pacific Ocean (Australia), is about
a half of a meter higher than on the South American side during this time!
The cold water rises (upwells) from the deep ocean replacing the warm water
in the eastern Pacific, and carrying to the surface the nutrients from decomposing
animals at the bottom. This process of cold water bringing nutrients to
the surface is called upwelling.
Water warms as it is transported through
the tropics to the west via the trade winds. The warm water causes the moist maritime air to rise. As the air rises it cools, causing water to condense into droplets (just like humid air that cools on the outside of a glass of ice water). This
process brings abundant rainfall to Indonesia and other parts of the western Pacific region.
Photo Credits:
Sarah H. Dawson
NOAA Paleoclimatology Program
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