Name: ____________________________________________ Date: _____________________________ Period: _______
El Nino Learning Cycle
Learning Pre-Check:
1. What have you heard in the news or from other people or from social media about El Nino? What is
it?
Explore: Using Buoy Data
Part I: Buoy Explanation: http://www.pmel.noaa.gov/tao/proj_over/flash/mainDOC.html
For more info, watch this buoy video at home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzBAWirHMvA
2. Where is the TAO buoy array in the Pacific ocean?
3. How is the information from buoys used?
Part II: NOAA buoy real-time data
Go to http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
4. Click on a yellow buoy along the TAO equator array in the WESTERN Pacific and one in the EASTERN
Pacific and record the following information:
WESTERN PACIFIC
Buoy ID:
Latitude and Longitude:
Wind speed:
Air Temperature:
Water Temp at 1 m:
Water Temp at 20 or 25 m:
Water Temp at 300 m:
EASTERN PACIFIC
Buoy ID:
Latitude and Longitude:
Wind Speed:
Air Temperature:
Water Temp at 1 m:
Water Temp at 20 or 25m:
Water Temp at 300 m:
5. Compare the temperature buoy data between the Western and Eastern Pacific.
6. How is this data limited? In other words, can we get an accurate picture of what’s going on in the
ocean from today’s data? What else would we need to understand the big picture?
7. Now, click on a buoy close to the shore of Japan. A graph of water column height will pop up. Using
your knowledge of plate tectonics, determine how this information essential for humans:
8. Are there any hurricanes, tropical storms, or remnants? Where?
Explain: Upwelling
To Understand El Nino, we must first understand what Upwelling is in the ocean. Watch this video
animation and read the article to answer the following questions. (Summarize what is said in the animation
and the article in your own words)
http://www.cengage.com/biology/discipline_content/animations/upwelling.html
http://education.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/upwelling/
9. Describe how upwelling works:
10. How is upwelling important?
Explain: Sketch conditions in the ocean. Use the resources posted on our class website to help you.
NORMAL CONDITIONS
EL NINO
LA NINA
Elaborate: Impacts of El Nino – fishing, rain, drought, health conditions, economics
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/101-videos/el-nino?source=searchvideo
11. What are the impacts of El Nino on the weather in SE Asia?
12. What are the impacts of El Nino on California’s weather?
13. What are the economic impacts of El Nino?
14. What are the impacts of El Nino on fishing in Peru and in CA? Why?
15. Think about it: How would warmer land temperatures impact human health?
16. Think about it: How would increased flooding impact human health?
Elaborate: Current El Nino Forecast – Read the article and answer the summary questions
http://www.vititoelawgroup.com/blog/2015/11/10-ways-you-can-prepare-for-el-nino-2015.shtml
17. Describe the current El Nino Forecast:
18. How can you prepare for El Nino rains?
Evaluate: Cold and Warm Episodes by Season—which years were likely El Ninos?
Go back to the website: http://www.ndbc.noaa.gov/
Look at the data provided by buoys along the equator in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
 Normal temperatures range from -0.5 to 0.5
 Warmer than normal temperatures are higher than 0.5
 Cooler than normal temperatures are lower than -0.5
19. Which years could indicate an El Nino? How do you know?
20. Which years could indicate a La Nina (colder than normal temperatures?) How do you know?