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el nino southern oscillation |
ElNinoSouthernOscillation, ENSO, is a global climate phenomenon that emerges from variation in winds and sea surface temperatures over the tropical PacificOcean. It periodically fluctuates between three phases: Neutral, La Niña or El Niño. On average, the temperature of the ocean surface in the tropical East Pacific is roughly 8–10 °C (14–18 °F) cooler than in the tropical West Pacific. The sea surface temperature (SST) of the West Pacific northeast of Australia averages around 28–30 °C (82–86 °F). SSTs in the East Pacific off the western coast of South America are closer to 20 °C (68 °F). The warming phase of the sea surface temperature is known as El Niño and the cooling phase as La Niña. If the temperature variation from climatology is within 0.5 °C (0.9 °F), ENSO conditions are described as neutral.The ENSO cycle, including both El Niño and La Niña, causes global changes in temperature and rainfall. Its occurrence is not predictable.[Wikipedia]
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