About our La Niña News
Latest news on La Niña, a climate pattern that describes the cooling of ocean surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. La Niña conditions typically occur every three to five years and last anywhere from nine to twelve months.
During a La Niña event, the trade winds strengthen, which in turn increases upwelling of colder water from the deep ocean. This cooler water brings nutrients to the surface, which can lead to an increase in marine productivity. La Niña conditions can also lead to above-average rainfall in the western Pacific and Indonesia, and below-average rainfall in the central and eastern Pacific.
While La Niña conditions can bring beneficial rains to some parts of the world, they can also lead to drought and other extreme weather conditions in other areas. For example, La Niña conditions often lead to increased hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean.