El Niño and La Niña are extreme phases of a naturally
occurring climate cycle referred to as El Niño/Southern Oscillation
or the ENSO Cycle. Changes in the tropical Pacific Ocean influence
climate patterns around the globe. One of the best websites to visit
on these topics is the El Niño-Southern Oscillation Homepage
of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration.
We heard about El Niño first — but check out the results
of the arrival of this cycle!
This phenomenon of climate and weather has been blamed for everything
from disturbances in rainfall patterns to messy closets and disobedient
children. Find out the story behind the excuses! The following websites
have many wonderful activities.
El
Niño — He's Back and He's Bad!
A feature of NASA's Observatorium, this site has many images that
might slow down your connection. It is well worth the wait, however!
El Niño
— Hot Air Over Hot Water!
A special exhibit from the Franklin Institute of Science, this
site has links to real-time data and other technical resources.
El
Niño Theme Page
Accessing Distributed Information Related to El Niño: this
site, a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Tropical Atmosphere Ocean Array, is the scientific site for information
about El Niño. It is here that one can link to a variety
of realtime data, including in situ buoys. There are many opportunities
for mathematical explorations, charting, and graphing.
El Niño
— Making Sense of the Weather
This contribution from NASA's Earth Science Enterprise presents
short, well-illustrated explanations for El Niño, the Southern
Oscillation, global wind patterns, and condensation. There are
three short weather-related science activities, using everyday
materials. These activities encourage prediction, observation,
and analysis. The explanations and instructions are clear and
well-written.
El
Niño Rules
The people at the Why Files bring us a great series of articles
about climate and global warming. The series talks about past,
present, and future El Niño patterns.
