NASA Announces 3D Model of El Nino Phenomenon

NASA has released a three-dimensional model of the El Nino phenomenon, a climate model marked with a mass of warm water in the Pacific Ocean. This article explains the key facts and context behind el nino.

Key Facts About El Nino

This dynamic model demonstrates the full life cycle of El Niño, beginning with the formation in January 2015 and ending with dissipation in April 2016.

The model indicates, when winds blow from east to west through the ocean, warm water accumulates in the Western Pacific. When this happens in the East, it makes warm water turn cool and encroach into the ocean surface.

Not only that, El Nino also slows the monsoon or even reverses their direction, pushing the mass of warm water slowly eastward along the equator. Similarly, cooler water moves westward.

The new 3D model shows warm water moving to the east in the summer months of 2015. Finally, cold water moving westward will reach the boundary, stretching out. Once the cool water occupies a much larger amount than warm water, the ocean temperature will decrease, and gradually, the El Nino phenomenon will quickly end.

Both wind currents and sea currents are present during El Nino formation through 3D animation. A series of winds can be seen going east to South America in the El Niño phenomenon, before the normal monsoon winds return in 2016.