El Nino
Beginning of paper
Typically, the level of ocean water around the world is higher in the
western Pacific and lower in the eastern, near the Western coast of South and
North America. This is due primarily to the presence of easterly winds in the
Pacific, which drag the surface water westward and raise the thermocline
....
Middle of paper
.... because, in a normal year,
there is upwelling on the western South American coastline, and cold waters of
the Pacific rise and push westward. However, during an El Nino year, upwelling
is suppressed and as a result, the thermocline is lower than normal. Finally,
thermocline rises in the west, making upwelling easier and water colder. Air
pressures at sea level in the South Pacific seesaw back and forth between two
distinct patterns. In the high index phase, also called "Southern Oscillation" ....
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Word count: 1143
Page count: 5 (approximately 250 words per page)
