El NinoEl Nino

Refers to a weak, warm current appearing annually Refers to a weak, warm current appearing annually around Christmas time along the coast of Ecuador and around Christmas time along the coast of Ecuador and Peru and lasting only a few weeks to a month or more. Peru and lasting only a few weeks to a month or more.

ENSO’s occur when the prevailing westerly winds ENSO’s occur when the prevailing westerly winds weaken or cease and surface waters along the weaken or cease and surface waters along the

South and North American Coasts become South and North American Coasts become warmerwarmer

Occurs every three to seven years and can last for Occurs every three to seven years and can last for many monthsmany months

In the tropical Pacific, In the tropical Pacific, trade windstrade winds generally generally drive the surface drive the surface waters westward. The waters westward. The surface water surface water becomes becomes progressively warmer progressively warmer going westward going westward because of its longer because of its longer exposure to solar exposure to solar heating. heating.

Observed when the Observed when the easterly trade winds easterly trade winds weaken, allowing weaken, allowing warmer waters of the warmer waters of the western Pacific to western Pacific to migrate eastward and migrate eastward and eventually reach the eventually reach the South American Coast. South American Coast. The cool nutrient-rich The cool nutrient-rich sea water normally sea water normally found along the coast found along the coast of Peru is replaced by of Peru is replaced by warmer water warmer water depleted of nutrients, depleted of nutrients, resulting in a resulting in a dramatic reduction in dramatic reduction in marine fish and plant lmarine fish and plant lifeife. .

Abnormal weather worldwideAbnormal weather worldwide

Drought in Southern Africa, Southern Drought in Southern Africa, Southern India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Indonesia, Australia, Southern Peru, Indonesia, Australia, Southern Peru, Western Bolivia, Mexico, Central Western Bolivia, Mexico, Central America America

Heavy rain and flooding in Bolivia, Heavy rain and flooding in Bolivia, Ecuador, Northern Peru, Cuba, U.S. Ecuador, Northern Peru, Cuba, U.S. Gulf States Gulf States

Hurricanes in Tahiti, Hawaii Hurricanes in Tahiti, Hawaii

Deeper Deeper thermoclinethermocline means means that any upwelling that does that any upwelling that does occur is unable to tap into occur is unable to tap into the rich nutrients found in the rich nutrients found in deeper waters. Consequently, deeper waters. Consequently, warm nutrient-poor water warm nutrient-poor water predominates the region and predominates the region and a decrease in the fish a decrease in the fish population is observed. population is observed.

A reduction of the fish A reduction of the fish population reduces the population reduces the amount of fishmeal produced amount of fishmeal produced and exported (by local and exported (by local industry) to other countries industry) to other countries for feeding poultry and for feeding poultry and livestock. If the world's livestock. If the world's fishmeal supply decreases, fishmeal supply decreases, more expensive alternative more expensive alternative feed sources must be used, feed sources must be used, resulting in an increase in resulting in an increase in poultry prices worldwide. poultry prices worldwide.