EMAIL THIS PAGE WRITE THE EDITOR SEARCH

Blockbuster El Nino could bring excellent snow conditions

September 2, 1997

El Nino is a warming of the surface waters of the tropical Pacific Ocean whose far-reaching climatic consequences affect societies and economies around the globe. The emergence of a powerful new El Nino this year is good news for skiers and snowboarders, as El Nino events have coincided with excellent winter snow conditions in the American West.

The current El Nino
A strong El Nino has developed over the past several months.

	Colorado skiers remember the marvelous winter of 1982-83 fondly, as snow conditions were heavenly throughout the season.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, waters across the eastern tropical Pacific have warmed to levels of 2 to 3 degrees Celsius above normal. Near the South American coast, waters are the warmest observed since the El Nino of 1982-83. That El Nino, the century's strongest, triggered over $10 billion in weather-related damages worldwide. One signal of the current El Nino's strength: for about 10 days last month, the northeasterly trade winds across the entire equatorial Pacific reverted to westerlies. Such a switch has been observed only once in the past 30 years - again, during the 1982-83 El Nino. If this event behaves as most do, the present oceanic signals of El Nino will continue to intensify during the summer and fall.

Colorado skiers remember the marvelous winter of 1982-83 fondly, as snow conditions were heavenly throughout the season.

El Nino and global warming
El Nino has been showing up more often since the late 1970s, with a prolonged episode from 1990 to 1995 and another quickly building up now. According to National Center for Atmospheric Research scientist Kevin Trenberth, one possible explanation is that the warm pool in the tropical western Pacific Ocean may be growing larger. Climate models are not yet accurate enough in simulating El Nino to clearly attribute these changes to global warming. However, even without affecting how often El Nino occurs or how long it stays around, global climate warming is likely to intensify the extremes of flooding and drought already experienced in different parts of the world during a normal El Nino and its inverse, La Nina. Trenberth believes that global warming and El Nino reinforce each other in their impact on the environment and society, primarily through their combined effects on the hydrological cycle and the repercussions for water supplies.

Special thanks to the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

CYBERWEST
CURRENT ISSUE	SCIENCE WEST CLIMATE
Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve — Harmonic convergence of valley, sand, stream and mountain Descending to the Rio Grande River in ancient footsteps Rancho Calera acquisition adds to Los Padres National Forest land along California's Big Sur coast Death Valley off-road suit dismissed; Surprise Canyon streambed protected from off-road vehicles	UNM study: El Niño-mediated winter storms produced wet climate in Chihuahuan Desert Wyoming Bighorn Basin research links warming, vegetation changes UCSC: Climate change threatens California's oak woodlands 'Living with the Changing California Coast' chronicles changes to famed coastline Yukon snow study suggests climate change in Western Canada Climate change may temper El Niño events, NCAR scientists find Wildlife, tundra, economy will feel the effects of climate change at Rocky Mountain National Park Link between Southwest climate and cultural changes established Alaska's fast-moving Columbia Glacier expected to melt into a fjord La Niña conditions likely to prevail in '99-'00 Hot on the heels of El Nino, La Nina arrives Blockbuster El Nino could bring excellent snow conditions Piercing the fog: NCAR scientists shed light on a silent California threat NCAR scientist models Earth's climate and vegetation patterns at last glacial peak CU researchers probe Arctic tree line for clues to global climate warming NCAR scientist's computer model links fire and the atmosphere Researchers identify key process in stratospheric ozone decline Snow forecasting: Watchers of the skies The record-setting 1990-95 El Nino: Harbinger of a changing climate?

CYBERWEST HOME PAGE  |  ARCHIVES  |  BOOKS WEST IMAGE WEST |  SCIENCE WEST |  ALIEN WEST
Activities Backcountry Skiing Biking Downhill Skiing Hiking Rivers Snowshoeing	Destinations Alaska Arizona California Canada Colorado Idaho Montana Nevada New Mexico Oregon Utah Washington Wyoming

All contents © Cyberwest Magazine Inc. All rights reserved.