Paper Summary:

The writer explains the causes and effects of the El Nino, which has an ocean warming effect, and the La Nina, which creates unusually cold ocean temperatures. The paper describes how the winds, the ocean surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation affect the natural climatic conditions in the Pacific region. The writer explains the impact these effects have on weather and climate in the United States. The paper examines the effect that climatic changes have on the economy. In conclusion, the paper states that the effects of the El Nino and La Nina create significant changes to the weather patterns, which are naturally created and affected, by changes in sea temperatures.

Table of Contents
Introduction
Causes
Ocean Surface Temperature and Atmospheric Circulations
- During Normal Conditions
- Conditions During El Ni?o
- Conditions During La Ni?a
Effects of El Nino and La Nina
Impact on Weather and Climatic Changes
Impact on Economy
Ecological Impact
Conclusion
Bibliography
References

From the Paper:

"Under "normal" conditions, the tropical trade winds blow from east to west, collecting warm water in the western Pacific. In the eastern Pacific, the trade winds pull up cold, deep, nutrient-rich waters down the equator from the Ecuadorian coast to the central Pacific. The warmth of the western Pacific results in a predominantly vigorous hydrologic cycle there with towering cumulus clouds and tropical storms that "radiate" atmospheric waves and disturbances across vast area of the globe. Heat and moisture lofted into the upper atmosphere by the clouds and storms are dispersed by high-altitude winds across vast regions of the globe.
During an El Ni?o, this situation is interrupted and the trade winds weaken, thus reducing the upwelling of cool waters in the eastern Pacific and permits the pool of warm water in the west to drift eastward toward South America. As the central and eastern Pacific warms, atmospheric pressure gradients along the equator decline, and the trade winds lessen even more."

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