Listen&Learn: El Niño

Learn how winds in the Pacific Ocean change weather around the world

Pre-listening vocabulary

• pattern: something that repeats
• ecosystem: a group of living things that depend on each other to survive
• reverse: the opposite
• hurricane: a strong tropical storm that begins over the ocean
• phenomenon: an effect that happens naturally
• average: the typical number of something

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

El Niño is part of a weather pattern that begins in the Pacific Ocean. It happens when the west-travelling winds across the ocean grow weaker, causing surface waters to warm up in the east. This can affect ecosystems, , and temperatures around the world. During El Niño years, many places experience warmer winters. South American fishermen named the effect “El Niño,” or “the little boy,” after Jesus Christ, because they often observed in water temperature before Christmas. El Niño also has a reverse effect, called La Niña, which causes colder winters in the north and stronger hurricanes over the Atlantic. The full name that scientists use for the phenomenon is El Niño/Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. The Southern Oscillation is the change in pressure connected to El Niño and La Niña. El Niño and La Niña events happen every two to seven years on average.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

1. El Niño is caused by
   a. human activity
   b. hurricanes
   c. weakened winds
   
2. During El Niño events, warmer winters occur
   a. in the north
   b. in the south
   c. globally
   
3. La Niña is the name for
   a. changes in air pressure in El Niño years
   b. a strong type of hurricane over the Atlantic
   c. the reverse effect to El Niño

Discussion/essay questions

1. El Niño is a natural phenomenon unrelated to global climate change. However, some scientists predict that El Niño events may become more extreme as temperatures continue to rise. Have you experienced weather changes where you live? What do they look like?

Transcript

El Niño is part of a natural weather pattern that begins in the Pacific Ocean. It happens when the west-travelling winds across the ocean grow weaker, causing surface waters to warm up in the east. This can affect ecosystems, storms, and temperatures around the world. During El Niño years, many northern places experience warmer winters. South American fishermen named the effect “El Niño,” or “the little boy,” after Jesus Christ, because they often observed changes in water temperature before Christmas. El Niño also has a reverse effect, called La Niña, which causes colder winters in the north and stronger hurricanes over the Atlantic. The full name that scientists use for the phenomenon is El Niño/Southern Oscillation, or ENSO. The Southern Oscillation is the change in air pressure connected to El Niño and La Niña. El Niño and La Niña events happen every two to seven years on average.

Answers to comprehension questions

1c 2a 3c