El Niño
Definition
El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean, which can cause significant changes in weather patterns worldwide.
Related terms
La Niña: The opposite of El Niño, characterized by cooler-than-normal ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.
Climate Change: Long-term shifts in temperature and weather patterns caused by human activities, which can interact with natural climate phenomena like El Niño.
Drought: A prolonged period of abnormally low rainfall that can be influenced by El Niño events.
"El Niño" appears in:
Study guides (2)
AP Environmental Science - 4.9 El Niño and La Niña
AP Environmental Science - 9.6 Ocean Warming
Additional resources (1)
AP Environmental Science - Unit 4 Overview: Earth Systems and Resources
Practice Questions (14)
What is El Niño?
What happens to the thermocline during El Niño?
What are the impacts of El Niño on the West Coast of the United States?
How does La Niña differ from El Niño?
What are the environmental impacts of El Niño and La Niña?
How often does El Niño occur?
Which of the following is a characteristic of El Niño events?
What is the relationship between El Niño and hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean?
How does El Niño impact fisheries in the Pacific Ocean?
What is the primary cause of El Niño and La Niña events?
Which of the following statements is true about El Niño and La Niña?
Which region typically experiences higher precipitation during El Niño events?
How does El Niño impact the weather in the southeastern United States?
What environmental impacts can be caused by El Niño and La Niña?
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About Us
About Fiveable
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Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
CCPA Privacy Policy
Resources
Cram Mode
AP Score Calculators
Study Guides
Practice Quizzes
Glossary
Cram Events
Merch Shop
Crisis Text Line
Help Center
© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.
AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.