What are El Niño (ENSO) conditions?
El Nino is a change in ocean surface and atmospheric conditions in Equatorial Pacific about every 3-7 years. 1. Warm surface water develops off the coasts of Peru and Ecuador, extending northward to Central America and Mexico 2. This causes atmospheric pressure decreases in Eastern Pacific 3. Trade winds weaken, especially in the East Pacific 4. Less effective westward transport by Trade Winds 5. Warm waters migrate eastward (feedback loop connecting to 1.
