ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation)
El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate pattern in the tropical Pacific Ocean involving irregular oscillations between warm (El Niño) and cool (La Niña) sea surface temperatures, which significantly affect global precipitation patterns and can trigger droughts or increased rainfall in distant regions.
Real World
The 1997–98 El Niño event caused catastrophic flooding in Peru and Ecuador while simultaneously triggering severe droughts across Indonesia and Australia, disrupting global food supply chains and costing an estimated $45 billion worldwide.
Exam Focus
Always distinguish El Niño from La Niña effects and link ENSO to specific regional drought or flood outcomes for extended-writing marks.
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