Theme
Exploring Our Oceans - Oceanography from Space

Investigation 3 - El Nino Southern Oscillation

Activity 1 - Understanding El Nino

Log into the Topex / Posiedon El Nino Sites to see some images and graphic animations of what happens during El Nino ( La Nina) events. http://topex-www.jpl.nasa.gov/elnino/elnino.html

Describe how Topex / Poseidon collect data.

What do the different colours on the Topex / Poseidon images indicate? How does this correspond with changes in oceanic temperature?

Find an animation of an El Nino event and observe and describe the changes that occur in the heights of the ocean surface during an El Nino event. As sea surface heights increase as a result of temperature changes, amongst other factors, we can interpret shifts in heights as representing changes in temperature of the water.

What changes also occur in wind directions during El Nino years as compared with normal years?

Describe some of the climatic disturbances and resulting effects that are believed to have been caused by the most recent El Nino event.

Describe the methods used by scientists to record changes in the ocean temperature and atmosphere that may be of use in predicting El Nino events.

Develop a time line to show in which years El Nino events have occurred

Find out about La Nina and the changes in climate that are associated with these events.

Obtain some different images of the ocean as determined by measurements of Sea Surface Temperature by satellites, and by research ships on the ocean taking the actual temperature of the ocean surface and temperatures at different depths. Find an animation of the El Nino event on the NOAA site at www.pmel.noaa.gov/toga-tao/el-nino/

What changes are observed using this type of data? How do these animations and images compare with the Topex/Poseidon data?

What changes also occur in wind directions during El Nino years as compared with normal years?

Describe some of the climatic disturbances and resulting effects that are believed to have been caused by the most recent El Nino event.

Develop a time line to show in which years El Nino events have occurred.

Find out about La Nina and the changes in climate that are associated.