Trade Winds During an El Nino Year

 

  • During an El Nino year, the trade winds weaken
  • This allows the water in the western pacific to move to the eastern pacific in the form of a "kelvin wave"
  • The equatorial counter current is also stronger
  • Notice the change in the Walker Circulation and associated precipitation distribution.
  • What causes the changes in trade winds, sea-surface temperatures, and pressure patterns in the equatorial pacific is still not known....., can you believe it????