Final answer:
El Niño and La Niña are part of the ENSO cycle occurring in the Pacific Ocean, where they affect global weather patterns, including tropical hurricanes, precipitation, and climate changes, with significant impacts on the environment and economies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The weather phenomena of El Niño and La Niña are critical components of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and take place in the Pacific Ocean. El Niño occurs when a warm ocean current flows off the west coast of South America, leading to high air pressure in the western Pacific and low air pressure in the eastern Pacific, thereby altering global weather patterns. Conversely, La Niña is characterized by below-average sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific and results in high air pressure in the eastern Pacific and low in the western Pacific, which also affects global weather patterns but typically with less severe effects than El Niño.
These events can have wide-reaching impacts, affecting tropical hurricane patterns, global precipitation, and climate patterns, and even local economies dependent on farming and fishing. The warm waters during El Niño can lead to marine life die-offs and catastrophic flooding, for example, along the Andean coast. Understanding these phenomena is crucial for predicting and preparing for their effects on the environment and human activity.