Why in News
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecast that the ongoing El Niño would remain strong to very strong during the first quarter of 2027.
Prelims Pointers
- El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a coupled ocean–atmosphere phenomenon in the tropical Pacific.
- Its phases are El Niño, La Niña and neutral.
- During El Niño, weaker easterly trade winds allow warm surface water to extend eastward.
- Upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water in the eastern equatorial Pacific weakens.
- La Niña involves unusually cool central and eastern equatorial Pacific waters and generally stronger trade winds.
- El Niño can weaken India’s southwest monsoon, but does not guarantee drought.
- The Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) can modify its influence.
- NOAA is a United States agency. It is not a United Nations organisation.
Prelims Traps
- “La Niña is cooling of the equatorial Indian Ocean and has no influence on India’s monsoon.” This is incorrect. It concerns the equatorial Pacific and can influence the monsoon. (UPSC Prelims 2011)
- “The Indian Ocean Dipole compares temperatures in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.” This is incorrect. It compares the western and eastern tropical Indian Ocean. (UPSC Prelims 2017)