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El Nino Is Back

Submitted by LiveScience Staff

posted: 11 July 2009 12:27 pm ET

: During El Nino, the surface of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of South American (brown region at right) is warmer (red) as cool water below (blue) does not upwell effectively. Click to see how it's different during non-El Nino times. Credit: NOAA

We told you last month that El Nino was poised to return. Now NOAA scientists this week announced its formal arrival.

The good news: possibly reduced hurricane activity. The bad news: possibly heavier rain in the Southern United States (which is actually good news for drought-stricken areas).

El Nino is the periodic warming of central and eastern tropical Pacific waters. It occurs on average every two to five years and typically lasts about 12 months. Weekly eastern equatorial Pacific sea surface temperatures were at least 1.0 degree C above average at the end of June, scientists said. The most recent El Nino occurred in 2006.

How El Nino Works

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