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Comparing the Effects of El Nino and La Nina		Sea surface temperature warming during El Nino
Image courtesy Live Access Server

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Purpose: To compare the effects of El Nino and La Nina at two different longitudinal locations, but at the same latitude, using sea surface temperature and precipitation from real satellite data
Grade Level: 7 - 8
Estimated Time for Completing Activity: Two 50 minute class periods
Learning Outcomes:
  • Students will be able to obtain real sea surface temperature and precipitation data from satellite.
  • Students will be able to create maps and line graphs of data.
  • Students will be able to make comparisons and conclusions regarding the effects of El Nino and La Nina.
National Standards:
  • Geography: Places and Regions
  • Math: Data Analysis and Probability
  • Science Content: A Science as Inquiry
  • Science Content: D Earth and Space Science
AP Environmental Science Topics
  • El Nino - Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
  • Impacts and consequences of global warming
  • Weather and climate
Virginia Standards of Learning:
  • ES.1c: The student will plan and conduct investigations in which scales, diagrams, maps, charts, graphs, tables, and profiles are constructed and interpreted.
  • ES.3d: The student will investigate and understand how to read and interpret maps, globes, models, charts, and imagery. Key concepts include location by latitude and longitude and topographic profiles.
  • ES.11c: The student will investigate and understand that oceans are complex, interactive physical, chemical, and biological systems and are subject to long- and short-term variations. Key concepts include systems interactions (density differences, energy transfer, weather, and climate).
Prerequisite
  • An Overview of El Nino and La Nina
  • Familiarity with latitude and longitude coordinates
  • Familiarity with Microsoft Excel
Tools
  • Computer with Internet Access
  • Map of the United States showing latitude and longitude lines
  • Colored pencils
  • Microsoft Excel or other spreadsheet software
Vocabulary:
Lesson Links:
Background:

The El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a global coupled ocean-atmosphere phenomenon. El Nino and La Nina are important temperature fluctuations in surface waters of the tropical Pacific Ocean. ENSO is associated with floods, droughts and other disturbances in a range of locations around the world. ENSO is the most prominent known source of interannual variability in weather and climate around the world. ENSO conditions seem to have occurred at two to seven year intervals for the past three hundred years. The mechanisms which might cause an ENSO are still being investigated. As the phenomenon is located near the Equator, it may affect both hemispheres.

The first signs of ENSO are:
1. A rise in air pressure over the Indian Ocean, Indonesia and Australia.
2. A fall in air pressure over Tahiti and the rest of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean.
3. Trade Winds in the South Pacific weaken or head east.
4. Warm air rises near Peru, causing rain in the Peruvian deserts.
5. Warm water spreads from the West Pacific and the Indian Ocean to the East Pacific and it takes the rain with it, causing extensive drought in the Western Pacific and rainfall in the normally dry Eastern Pacific.

La Nina is the name of the cold phase of ENSO, during which the cold pool in the eastern Pacific intensifies and the trade winds strengthen. La Nina causes the opposite effects of El Nino. For example, El Nino would cause a wet period in the midwestern United States, while La Nina would cause a dry period.
Procedure:

Part I: Compare the effects of ENSO in two different locations in the United States. Latitude: 37 degrees North, and Longitudes: 116 degrees West (California) and 99 degrees West (Kansas).

1. Obtain a U.S. map, locate and plot the latitudes and longitudes of the two selected sites (Porterville, CA, and Hays, KS).
2. Predict similarities and differences in weather patterns over the past ten years of these two areas.
3. Make an overlay line plot of precipitation using the Live Access Server (Armstrong). Click the lesson link above for the Live Access Server.
4. Select Atmosphere, Precipitation, then click the Monthly Precipitation (CMAP) box.
5. Click the Compare Two tab on the left menu. Click on 'Use Interactive Map' link located above the map.
6. Select View: Time Series.
7. Select Output: Overlay Plot.
8. Click on variable 1 to the right of the map and enter latitude and longitude of the CA site. Select time range Nov 1997 and Feb 1999.
9. Then click on variable 2 and enter latitude and longitude of the KS site. Click Next.
10. An overlay line plot should appear in a new window. Be sure pop-up blockers are turned off. Analyze the graph.

Part II: Make maps of sea surface temperature in the Pacific Ocean during El Nino and La Nina phases.

1. To create sea surface temperature comparison maps, return to the Live Access Server, Select Oceans, Select Compare Two, check Weekly Sea Surface Temperature (MCSST), Click Next.
2. Select View: Longitude-Latitude map (xy), Select output: Adjacent plots, Select Region: Equatorial Pacific.
3. Enter dates: November, 1997, and February, 1999. Click Next.
4. Analyze the maps.

Part III (Optional): To create a data table and graph of precipitation comparisons in Excel, follow these directions:

1. Select Live Access Server (Armstrong)
2. Select Atmosphere, Precipitation, Monthly Precipitation (CMAP). Click Next.
3. Select View: Time Series, Select Output: ASCII file (text), enter latitude and longitude of one site. Select time range Nov 1997 and Feb 1999 and then click next.
4. Click ASCII file
5. Save data table to desktop to import into Excel.
6. Repeat steps 3 - 5 for the second site.

Excel Directions:

1. Open Excel and select Import or Get External Data under the Data menu. Click on Import Text File.
2. Use the Browse window to select the precipitation file on your desktop or other file location.
3. A Text Import Wizard window should appear. On Step 1, Select Delimited. Be sure to Start Import at headings row. Click next. On step 2, select space delimited and finish. The data should now be neatly organized in the spreadsheet.
4. Delete all columns except date and precipitation amounts.
5. Highlight the two columns labeled dates and precipitation
6. Click the Insert on the menu bar, and Select Chart.
7. With the Chart Wizard open, choose the xy scatterplot with connecting line (no markers which is the bottom right choice) Click next.
8. Type a chart title and label the axis.
9. Generate the graph by selecting Finish. Place in worksheet by clicking OK.
10. Repeat for the second data file and graph.
Questions:

1. Analyze the sea surface temperature maps. Which one is the El Nino phase and which one is the La Nina phase?

2. Write a paragraph comparing and contrasting the sea surface temperature maps.

3. Analyze the line graph showing precipitation comparisons. Which line is California? Which line is Kansas?

4. Compare and contrast both sites and write a paragraph on your observations. Relate the observations to the ENSO phases.

5. In which location would you rather live based on the precipitation amounts? Why?
Extensions:

1. How do you think any future climate change will affect the El Nino and La Nina phenomenon?

2. What information would you need to make this prediction?

3. How do you think this will affect the two comparison sites?

Lesson plan contributed by Marti Phipps, California, and Kathy Rome, Kansas

Click here for Teachers Notes

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