Final answer:
El Niño is a climate event where warm water moves eastward, affecting global weather by causing extreme conditions and disrupting ocean upwelling. This can result in significant ecological and economic impacts, from marine life die-offs and flooding to crop failures and increased prices on commodities.
Step-by-step explanation:
El Niño is a significant climate phenomenon that causes a disruption in the normal weather patterns due to the movement of warm water eastward, as opposed to the usual westward current.
This warm ocean current affects global weather, often leading to extreme conditions such as heavy rainfall, flooding, droughts, and even an imbalance in marine ecosystems.
Furthermore, it influences temperatures and precipitation patterns, which can disrupt local economies, especially those dependent on agriculture and fishing. The counterpart to El Niño, known as La Niña, is characterized by a cooling of sea surface temperatures in the Pacific, which also significantly alters weather patterns.
The consequence of the eastward shift during El Niño includes disruption to the ocean upwelling process. Normally, upwelling brings nutrient-rich cold waters to the surface, supporting abundant marine life.
However, during El Niño years, the warmer waters can cause marine life die-offs and harmful impacts on coastal regions, including catastrophic flooding. Internationally, the effects of El Niño may manifest as severe weather events, crop failures, and subsequent economic impacts like higher prices on goods and services.