Submit your comments on this article |
Europe |
Swiss research finds El Niño affects Europe |
2004-10-25 |
Swiss research suggests that El Niño - a climatic phenomenon which causes changes to the weather in many parts of the globe also affects Europe. Researchers at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich say that El Niño can lead to cold winters in Europe and an increase in thickness of the ozone layer over the Artic. Every three to seven years, El Niño causes a change in climate, resulting in torrential rains and flooding in Chile, drought and forest fire in Indonesia and hurricanes in California. In an article published in the scientific journal, "Nature", scientists at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich say they have found evidence that El Niño also affects Europe - a subject which has been controversial in the past. The research team, headed by climatology professor Stefan Brönnimann, looked at the years 1940 to 1942 in particular. "The three winters were unique. Two of them were the coldest in the last century," said Brönnimann. ![]() Comparing these results to other meteorological data, the climatologists discovered a pattern. The strongest results came from 1969-1970, 1997 and 1998 all known El Niño years. "The cause of all these phenomena is El Niño," said Brönnimann. One of the most important factors in causing an El Niño is the prevailing trade winds that blow from east to west across the equatorial pacific. They take the ocean's warm surface water towards Southeast Asia, where clouds form and fall as the Monsoon rains. In strong El Niño events, the trades slow down or reverse their direction and the rains fall in South America, while Southeast Asia suffers drought. |
Posted by:Mark Espinola |
#10 and our storm drain/hydraulics aren't designed for it - San Diego (9-10" normal/yr)- last yr we had 2" |
Posted by: Frank G 2004-10-25 5:22:36 PM |
#9 Actually it's not hurricanes, It's actually more like monsoon rains. I have been here 52 years. We rarely get "real" weather anywhere here in California. |
Posted by: Sock Puppet of Doom 2004-10-25 5:20:34 PM |
#8 I can remember getting 6 inches in one hour, but there wasn't much wind. All we ever get are the remnants, which usually translates into rotten weather for the warmer months. Has a tendency to ruin an otherwise uneventful summer, really. (and I've lived here for 40+ years, unfortunately) |
Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2004-10-25 2:08:16 PM |
#7 O'Brien... Hmmm... Doesn't sound Swiss... |
Posted by: .com 2004-10-25 2:05:51 PM |
#6 Unfeeling, Unthinking bastards! You morons don't understand that the Nino and Niha are Mine! All Mine! I own them! Bwwwwwwwwwwwwwwhaaaaaaaaaaha ha! I am famous! World famous! Death to baby fish! Long live the upwelling! Give me Grants or get me more graduate students! |
Posted by: Dr Jimmy OBrien 2004-10-25 2:04:20 PM |
#5 El Niño causes ... hurricanes in California. It does??? I lived there 15 years and don't remember any. I can remember getting 6 inches in one hour, but there wasn't much wind. |
Posted by: jackal 2004-10-25 2:02:52 PM |
#4 LOL, ed! And as far as the ozone layer goes: I'm lost in the ozone again I'm lost in the ozone again One drink of wine Two drinks of gin And I'm lost in the ozone again ---Commander Cody |
Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-10-25 11:13:37 AM |
#3 There is no time to lose! The world must implement the Santiago Treaty. Billions of dollars must be transferred from the El Niño rich to the El Niño deprived. Do it for the children. And the oxone layer. |
Posted by: ed 2004-10-25 8:39:15 AM |
#2 It's cuz, like, y'know, the Earth is like round and everything. |
Posted by: .com 2004-10-25 6:40:10 AM |
#1 El Niño can lead to cold winters in Europe and an increase in thickness of the ozone layer over the Artic. !!!!!! |
Posted by: trailing wife 2004-10-25 6:33:26 AM |