Question

The change in the wind patterns on the Earth that causes an increase in ocean temperature is:

a. El Niña
c. La Niña
b. El Niño
d. La Niño

Answer 1

Answer: El Niño

Explanation: El Niño is the warm phase of the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) that is associated with an increase of the temperature of the water in the central and east-central Pacific Ocean, including the pacific area on the coasts of South America.

El Niño also comes with changes of pressure in the western pacific (high pressure) and eastern pacific (low pressure), which causes a change in the wind patterns.

Answer 2

El Niño is the correct answer. El Niño refers to the phase of the El Niño Southern Oscillation where the temperature of the wind and sea surface increases to above-average levels in the Pacific Ocean. The warming of these temperatures causes atmospheric circulation to shift, for example increasing rainfall over the Pacific and decreasing it over Indonesia and Australia. It can also make trade winds reverse in their direction. La Niña cause decreases in temperature.