How many people died in El Niño?

The event was blamed for between 1,300 and 2,000 deaths and more than $13 billion in damage to property and livelihoods. During this period, the thermocline off the South American coast dropped to about 500 feet.

Was there an El Nino in 1997?

The 1997–1998 El Niño was regarded as one of the most powerful El Niño–Southern Oscillation events in recorded history, resulting in widespread droughts, flooding and other natural disasters across the globe.

What were three specific impacts of the 1997 El Niño?

Losses from the El Niño in 1997-1998 included thousands of deaths and injuries from severe storms, heat waves, fires, floods, frosts and drought. Estimates of El Niño-related damage ranged from $32 to $96 billion.

Why was 1997 an El Niño year?

The development of El Niño conditions in the equatorial Pacific during 1997 was significantly modulated by higher frequency variability. Weakening and reversal of the trade winds in early 1997 was punctuated by a series of westerly wind events of increasing intensity or fetch along the equator (Figs. 1 and 2).

Which El Niño year before 1997 was the most severe?

El Niño events of 1982-83 and 1997-98 were the most intense of the 20th century. During the 1982-83 event, sea surface temperatures in the eastern tropical Pacific were 9-18° F above normal.

How many people died from La Nina?

Over 3 000 deaths in Asia have been attributed to La Niña-provoked flooding since persistent rains began throughout the region in late June.

Was 1997 a La Niña or El Niño year?

During El Niño years, such as 1997, the southeast receives more rain than average. La Niña is the build up of cool waters in the equatorial eastern Pacific, such as occurred in 1988 and, to a slightly lesser degree, 1998. La Niña’s impacts are opposite those of El Niño.

How does El Niño affect human health?

El Niño conditions can cause a wide range of health problems, including disease outbreaks, malnutrition, heat stress, and respiratory diseases. Above-average rainfall caused by El Niño can also cause floods and increase diseases spread by mosquitoes, such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya and the Zika virus.

How many years does El Niño last?

Episodes of El Niño and La Niña typically last nine to 12 months, but can sometimes last for years. El Niño and La Niña events occur every two to seven years, on average, but they don’t occur on a regular schedule.

What does La Niña mean for Texas?

El Niño can mean wetter, cooler seasons for us, but a La Niña at this time of year typically leaves Texas drier and warmer than normal. Last year, we experienced one of the warmest and driest autumns, thanks to La Niña.

Is La Niña wet or dry?

La Niña is a climate pattern that usually delivers more dry days across the southern third of the US. Its drought-producing effects are especially pronounced in the south-west, but the phenomenon will also contribute to higher risks of hurricanes as the winds help the storms build. .

Why is it La Niña called cold Pacific?

The Origin of the Names, La Niña and El Niño El Niño was originally recognized by fisherman off the coast of South America as the appearance of unusually warm water in the Pacific ocean, occurring near the beginning of the year. La Niña is also sometimes referred to as “an ENSO cold event”.

What was the effect of the 1997 El Nino?

It caused an estimated 16% of the world’s reef systems to die, and temporarily warmed air temperature by 1.5 °C, compared to the usual increase of 0.25 °C associated with El Niño events. It led to a severe outbreak of Rift Valley fever after extreme rainfall in north-eastern Kenya and southern Somalia.

What was the most powerful El Nino in history?

The 1997–1998 El Niño was regarded as one of the most powerful El Niño–Southern Oscillation events in recorded history, resulting in widespread droughts, flooding and other natural disasters across the globe.

When did El Nino break the record for tropical cyclones?

The North Pacific basin broke the record for having the most tropical cyclones reaching Category 4 and 5 intensities with 17 that season. However, the 2015 season surpassed it with 21 tropical cyclones during the 2014–16 El Niño event . ^ Trenberth, Kevin E. (2002).

Where are the shrimp farms in El Nino?

Over the past three decades, shrimp farms around the Gulf of Guayaquil (just a few degrees south of the equator, on the Peru/Ecuador border), have learned to deal with El Niño’s various moods–and relatives, like his cool weather cousin, La Niña.