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10 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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El Nino |
El Nino is an irregular occurrence of warm surface water in the Pacific off the coast of South America that affects global wind and rainfall patterns. |
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El Nino is caused by (warm) |
-Eastlies weaken, allowing warm waters to migrate eastwards. -Cool water off the coast of Peru is replaced by warmer water; Warm water off Australia is replaced by cooler water. |
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La Nino is caused by (cold) |
- colder than normal subsurface waters in the tropic Pacific. - cold water is brought to the surface, sea surface temperatures drop below normal. |
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Impacts of La Nino |
1. Cool ocean tenperatures 2. Impacts on the health sector : bronchial diseases and respiratory illnesses 3. Wetter conditions in Australia, Southeast America and Vietnam |
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Impacts of El Nino - Increased rainfall |
- devastating flooding in Peru and Central Ecuador (In 1997, more than 10 times rainfall) - injuries, homelessness, loss of human life |
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Impacts of El Nino - More warm water off South America |
- less rich in nutrients - decline in fisheries, seabirds... |
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Impacts of El Nino - Water born diseases |
1. SeriousMalaria epidemics e.g. Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia in 1983 2. Transmission of Dengue Fever |
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Impacts of El Nino - Disruptions to climate |
- Indian Monsoon - Droughts in Europe - Bushfires in Asia + Brazil |
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Economic impact of El Nino - 1997-1998 |
1997-1998 El Nino saw sales increases in department stores in the USA, but sales of snow equipment went down. |
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Impacts of El Nino 1997-1998 |
1. A stormy winter in CA 2. Worsening drought in Australia, Indonesia, the Philippine and Southern Africa 3. Lower rainfall in N.Europe, higher rainfall in S. Europe. |
