What is difference between El Nino and La nina

 El Niño and La Niña are two opposite phases of a climate pattern known as the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO). They refer to the unusual warming (El Niño) and cooling (La Niña) of surface waters in the eastern and central equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Here are the key differences between El Niño and La Niña:

Temperature:

During El Niño, surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean become unusually warm, while during La Niña they become colder than average.

Trade winds:

El Niño is characterized by weakening or even reversing trade winds in the tropical Pacific, while La Niña is associated with stronger-than-normal trade winds.

Atmospheric conditions:

El Niño causes changes in the atmospheric circulation, such as a weakening of the Walker circulation (east-to-west trade winds), which affect weather patterns around the world. La Niña, on the other hand, improves pedestrian circulation.

Rainfall pattern:

El Niño typically brings increased rainfall to the west coasts of the Americas, including parts of South America and the southern United States. In contrast, La Niña tends to bring below-average rainfall for the same regions, as does increased rainfall in the Western Pacific.

Climate effects:

El Niño and La Niña have a significant impact on global weather and climate. El Niño can bring droughts, floods and extreme weather to different parts of the world, while La Niña is associated with cooler and wetter conditions in some areas, as well as increased hurricane risk in the Atlantic basin. It is important to note that El Niño and La Niña occur irregularly, with varying intensity and duration. They usually last several months to a year or more before returning to a neutral state. These climate phenomena have profound implications for agriculture, fisheries, ecosystems, and weather forecasting worldwide.