LA NINA after a decade

  • December 1, 2020
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Subject: Geography

Context: Developing ocean-atmospheric phenomenon (LaNina) will influence our weather in the coming months

Concept:

  • It means the large-scale cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, together with changes in the tropical atmospheric circulation, namely winds, pressure and rainfall.
  • It has the opposite impacts on weather and climate as El Niño, which is the warm phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO).

Weather changes because of La Nina:

  • The Horn of Africa and central Asia will see below average rainfall due to La Niña.
  • East Africa is forecast to see drier-than-usual conditions, which together with the existing impacts of the desert locust invasion, may add to regional food insecurity.
  • It could also lead to increased rainfall in southern Africa.
  • It could also affect the South West Indian Ocean Tropical Cyclone season, reducing the intensity.
  • Southeast Asia, some Pacific Islands and the northern region of South America are expected to receive above-average rainfall.
  • In India, La Niña means the country will receive more rainfall than normal, leading to floods.

Geography LA NINA after a decade