El Nino- the piling up of warm water in the eastern Pacific off the west coast of South America. This warm water does not allow the cold water upwelling ( source of nutrients for fish) along the west coast of South America. This El Nino phenomenon affects the economy and climate of not only SA but also the US, see diagram.
La Nina- is the opposite of El Nino. During La Nina colder than average water temperatures are experienced in the eastern Pacific.
Hurricanes- need warm, moist air to form. Hurricanes begin in the east Atlantic Ocean in tropical latitudes where the water temp is at least 80 degrees F. As hurricanes move over land they lose energy due to friction and the lack of warm moist air.
Photo credit-NASA/Jeff Schmaltz
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