El Niño is a climate phenomenon characterized by the periodic warming of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean. It has significant impacts on global weather patterns.
-
Winds Below the Warm Water Southward: This statement does not accurately describe the influence of El Niño. During El Niño events, the typical trade winds weaken, which leads to changes in weather patterns, but this specific description of winds moving southward is misleading.
-
Warm Water Moves Westward Making Coastal South America Cooler: This is incorrect. During an El Niño event, warm water is pushed eastward towards South America, often resulting in warmer sea surface temperatures along the coast of South America. This can lead to cooler, wetter conditions in coastal areas, particularly in the eastern Pacific, as it disrupts normal upwelling.
-
Winds Below the Warm Waters Northward Making Coastal Alaska Warmer: This statement does not accurately reflect typical El Niño impacts. Cool and dry air often prevails in Alaska during El Niño years rather than warming.
-
Warm Waters Move Eastward Making Coastal South America Warmer: This statement is correct. During El Niño events, the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean move eastward toward the coast of South America. This results in warmer ocean temperatures, which can lead to altered weather patterns, including increased rainfall and warmer conditions along the coasts of South America.
In summary, the most accurate description of the impact of El Niño is that it causes warm waters to move eastward, leading to warmer sea temperatures and altered weather patterns, particularly affecting coastal South America.