Question

La Niña Reading Worksheet
Instructions: Read the following passage about the phenomena of La
Niña in meteorology. Then answer the questions on the information.
La Niña is a climate phenomenon and the counterpart of El Niño,
representing cooler-than-average
sea surface temperatures in the
central and eastern Pacific Ocean,
along the equator. It is part of the
broader El Niño-Southern
Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, showing
opposite conditions to El Niño.
During La Niña events, the
trade winds blowing from east to
west across the Pacific Ocean
intensify, leading to the upwelling of
cold, nutrient-rich waters along the South American coast. This results in
cooler sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific.
La Niña impacts weather patterns across the globe, showing different
characteristics from El Niño. Some of the effects include:
1. **Rainfall Patterns:** La Niña often leads to enhanced rainfall in certain
regions and drier conditions in others. It can cause increased precipitation
in the western Pacific and parts of Southeast Asia, leading to floods, while
contributing to drought in some other regions, like parts of Australia and
South America.
2. **Tropical Cyclones:** La Niña tends to increase the number and
intensity of tropical cyclones in the Atlantic and decrease cyclone activity in
the Pacific. It can lead to more hurricanes in the Atlantic and fewer in the
Pacific.

Answer 1

Below are comprehension questions based on the passage, followed by answers (answer key).

Questions
1. What is La Niña?
2. How is La Niña related to El Niño?
3. Where (which part of the ocean) are sea surface temperatures cooler during La Niña?
4. What change in the trade winds occurs during La Niña, and what does that change cause?
5. What is upwelling, and why is it important in the context of La Niña?
6. Name two regions that typically experience enhanced rainfall during La Niña.
7. Name a region that can experience drought during La Niña.
8. How does La Niña typically affect tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic and the Pacific?
9. True or False: La Niña usually leads to fewer hurricanes in the Atlantic.
10. Briefly explain why La Niña can change weather patterns around the globe.

Answer key
1. La Niña is a climate phenomenon characterized by cooler-than-average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean along the equator.
2. La Niña is the counterpart of El Niño and part of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle; it represents conditions opposite to El Niño.
3. The central and eastern Pacific Ocean (along the equator).
4. The trade winds intensify (blow stronger from east to west), which leads to increased upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich waters along the South American coast and cooler sea surface temperatures.
5. Upwelling is the rising of deeper, colder, nutrient-rich water to the surface. In La Niña it brings cold water to the surface, cooling sea surface temperatures and supporting marine productivity.
6. The western Pacific and parts of Southeast Asia.
7. Parts of Australia and parts of South America can experience drought.
8. La Niña tends to increase the number and intensity of tropical cyclones (hurricanes) in the Atlantic and decrease cyclone activity in the Pacific.
9. False — La Niña usually leads to more (not fewer) hurricanes in the Atlantic.
10. La Niña alters ocean temperatures and atmospheric circulation (strengthening trade winds and shifting convection), which changes where and how much precipitation and storm activity occur, producing wetter conditions in some regions and drier in others.