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The El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle is a yearly pattern of sea-surface temperatures, rainfall, air pressure, and atmospheric circulation in the equatorial Pacific Ocean. El Niño represents above-average sea surface temperatures, while La Niña represents periodic decreases. EI Niño are warmer than usual tropical Pacific sea surface temperatures. Finally, La Nina is referred to as the cold phase of ENSO, and El Nino is the warm phase. 

El Nino

El Nino is a Spanish word that means "little boy" or "Christ child." The reason behind its unique name is that early in the 17th century, fishermen in South America were the first to recognize it. The warm waters incidents in the Pacific Ocean generally occurred in December, that's why the term was chosen.

India's agriculture and monsoons are adversely affected by El Nino, a climatic interaction that raises sea surface temperatures in the central and east-central Equatorial Pacific.

The impact of El Nino.

The pressure distribution during a usual monsoon year (without an El Nino) is as follows:

1. The pressure along Peru's seashore is higher than that of the area close to northern Australia and South East Asia.
2. Because the Indian Ocean is warmer than its surrounding waters, its pressure is comparatively lower. Thus, winds carrying a lot of moisture travel from the western Pacific to the Indian Ocean.
3. The winds carry moisture circulation far from the ocean to the lands because the pressure on the Indian subcontinent is lower than that on the Indian Ocean.

 

The monsoons are impacted if this regular pressure distribution is impacted for any cause.

What is the effect of El Nino?

El Nino causes warmer surface water around Peru's coast, causing the loss of regular maritime breezes. This results in moisture-laden winds directed towards Peru's coast, leading to intense rainfall during El Nino years. This affects India, which experiences a greater scarcity of rainfall due to temperature and pressure differences.

 

La Nina

La Nina, which means "little girl" in Spanish, is also known as El Viejo, which means "cold weather." The Eastern Pacific's water temperature drops below average here. This has led to a significant build-up of pressure over the eastern equatorial Pacific. Currently, the Western Pacific and the waters around Asia are under low pressure.

 

La Nina brings severe rainfall in Australia, drought in Ecuador and Peru, strong monsoon rains in India, and high temperatures in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Somalia. El Nino is more common and lasts for nine to twelve months. It happens every four to five years.

What are La Niña's effects?: 

Weather forecasters believe that winter rains over North India are associated with La Niña. It may not have a strong connection with seasonal elements like El Niño, but it still affects seasonal performance. While La Niña's behavioural features lack a set rulebook, the winter rains are predicted to perform along these lines:

 

1.  North India saw less winter rainfall than usual.
2.  Less snowfall than usual across the Western Himalayas 
3. The plains will see colder winter temperatures than usual 
4.  Prolonged Winter Season (extended winters) over North India 
5.  Additional rainfall in the latter part of the Northeast Monsoon 

Impact of La Nina

India is predicted to see severe weather, unpredictable monsoon patterns, and more powerful cyclonic storms as a result of climate change's strengthening of ENSO's warm and cold phases. The Himalayas may be under stress due to La Niña's decreased snowfall and winter precipitation, which might lead to greater pressure on agro-forestry, plants, and fruit production. It might additionally trigger glaciers to retreat.

 

 

El Nino and La Nina effects on India

Since 1950, India has experienced ten droughts during El Nino years and one during La Nina years, primarily due to less rain during El Nino years. This is due to the heavy monsoon dependency on Indian agriculture and lower rainfall during monsoons, resulting in below-average crop production. The ENSO, or El Nino and La Nina, impacts both India and global weather patterns.

Why do El Niño and La Niña happen?

El Niño and La Niña are natural conditions influenced by ocean surface and atmospheric interactions in the tropical Pacific island chain. These variations affect tropical weather patterns, winds, and ocean temperatures, ultimately impacting global weather patterns.

Conclusion

El Nino and La Nina climate patterns significantly impact Indian life, including agriculture, water availability, and natural disaster frequency, affecting global weather and climate. In India, warm weather in winter and dry conditions in summer lead to insufficient monsoons. El Nino often weakens monsoons, but 60% of droughts have occurred in the past 130 years. Agriculture accounts for 18% of GDP, and poor rainfall can lead to declining demand in rural areas and increased inflation. Governments may set minimum support prices for crops. finally, as per the new government, let's see what would happen.

FAQs

What distinguishes El Nino from La Nina in India?

 

El Nino is the name of the warming phase of ENSO, while La Nina is the name of the cooling phase. El Nino and La Nina phases of ENSO involve low and high pressure in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific, with potential reversals affecting both regions.

Which one is beneficial for India? La Niña or El Niño?

El Nino, a warming of the Pacific Ocean, leads to dry weather in India and weakening monsoon winds, while La Nina produces heavy rainfall.