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**EL-NIÑO**

**Part III of IV**

The phenomenon of EL-Niño has been going on for millions of years. Since it occurs around Christmas time, it was given the name Christ Child by the Peruvian fishermen some 4 centuries ago. It is only in the past 10 to 20 years that we have become alert to what its world wide effects are.

Through research it has been learned that an El-Niño occurs about every 3 to 7 years and no two events are alike.

The last major El-Niño occurred in 1982-1983. At that time it was still not understood about its world wide effects. So as not to be caught off guard again, the documentation and analysis of past and present weather, and weather related events are being conducted.

Currently observations are carried on by ships, weather satellites, space shuttle, land and sea based stations in the Pacific as well as thousands of weather stations through-out the world.

Many buoys containing weather instruments and other electronic devices have been deployed in the Pacific from Mexico to South America and along the equator to Indonesia and Australia. These observe and record information about the atmosphere and ocean water. The information is relayed via satellite to weather centers around the world for analysis.

The Effects of El-Niño are strongest during the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Winters are milder over portions of Western Canada, and the northern portions of the United States. Heavy rains and severe weather occur more frequently over the southern United States.

The northern polar jet stream associated with the polar front is a steering mechanism in the atmosphere. It forms a boundary between the cold dry air to the north and warm moist air to the south and is usually located over the central and southern United States during the winter months. During an El-Niño, the polar jet stream becomes situated further north along the U.S./Canadian border, in a somewhat west to east position. This position creates a blocking action of the cold air masses which are moving south from the interior of Canada and the Arctic regions, allowing warm moist air from the tropics to penetrate farther north than usual.

Another jet steam which is called the southern jet stream is usually located at 15-20 degrees north latitude. During El-Niño this jet shifts north over the southern United States to 30-35 degrees north latitude.

© 1998 Charles A. Giannetta

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