Consider the following statements:

1. The development of an El Niño brings drought to the western Pacific, rains to the equatorial coast of South America, and convective storms and hurricanes to the central Pacific.

2. El Nino and Indian monsoon are inversely related.

3. La Nina refers to the unusual warming of the central and east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean which affects global weather.

Which of the statements given above is correct?

The correct answer is 1 and 2 only.

Important Points

• El Nino refers to the unusual warming of the central and east-central equatorial Pacific Ocean which affects global weather. Hence, statement 3 is Not correct.
• The warmer waters of the Pacific Ocean cause the winds in various regions to reverse, like the trade winds that come towards India.
• This change of wind direction leads to warmer winters and summers and a decrease in rainfall during the monsoon.
• Most of the time, it also leads to drought.
• El Niño normally occurs around Christmas and usually lasts for a few weeks to a few months.
• Climatically, the development of an El Niño brings drought to the western Pacific, rains to the equatorial coast of South America, and convective storms and hurricanes to the central Pacific. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
  • The warmer waters had a devastating effect on marine life existing off the coast of Peru and Ecuador.
  • Severe droughts occur in Australia, Indonesia, India and southern Africa.
  • Heavy rains in California, Ecuador, and the Gulf of Mexico.
• El Nino and Indian monsoon are inversely related. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
• However, not all El Nino years led to a drought in India.
• El Nino directly impacts India’s agrarian economy as it tends to lower the production of summer crops such as rice, sugarcane, cotton and oilseeds.

Additional Information

• La Nina
  • ​After an El Niño event weather conditions usually return back to normal.
  • However, in some years the trade winds can become extremely strong and an abnormal accumulation of cold water can occur in the central and eastern Pacific.
  • This event is called La Niña.