Sometimes, the surface of the Pacific Ocean warms up, causing changes in the weather in some areas. This phenomenon is called El Niño. El Niño causes the amount of rainfall in some parts of the United States and South America to increase. It also causes droughts to occur in Southeast Asia and Australia. Droughts occur when an area receives less rain than it normally does over a certain period.

Explain how Earth’s spheres may be affected by the droughts brought on by El Niño. keep it really short

1 answer

El Niño-induced droughts can impact Earth's spheres in several ways:

  1. Atmosphere: Changes in precipitation and temperature can alter weather patterns, leading to increased drought frequency and intensity.

  2. Biosphere: Reduced rainfall affects plant growth, leading to stress for ecosystems, loss of biodiversity, and threats to food sources for animals and humans.

  3. Hydrosphere: Droughts decrease water availability in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, impacting aquatic life and reducing water supply for drinking and irrigation.

  4. Geosphere: Soil degradation and erosion can occur due to lack of moisture, leading to habitat loss and affecting agriculture adversely.

Overall, the interconnectedness of these spheres means that droughts can have cascading effects across the planet.