ANSWER

1. Ask the students what they know or have experienced regarding El Nino. 2. Use the figure about the El Nino emphasize that it starts with the unusual warming of the central Pacific Ocean accompanied by the weakening of the trade winds. The warming of the central Pacific Ocean results to an eastward shift of the low-pressure area (away from the Indo Pacific). 3. Explain the origin of the term El Nino as a decrease in fish catch off the coast of Peru near Christmas time. Emphasize that this is a biologic response. THE EL NINO PHENOMENON NORMAL YEAR Equatorial winds gather warm water pool toward the west EL NINO YEAR Easterly wind we sheri Wa water to may eastward