From La Niña to El Niño 

During La Niña, the warm waters in the west Pacific add extra heat to the air, resulting in rising motion where there are more clouds and rainfall. As we transition to El Niño, the surface trade winds weaken, the warm water anomalies spread eastward, and the convective rising branch of the Walker Circulation shifts to the central and east Pacific. 

These changes in the atmosphere and ocean influence the global weather. This visualization showcases the effect of the La Niña to El Niño transition by highlighting some of the interrelated climate- and weather-related outcomes, including changes to precipitation patterns, ocean dynamics, sea surface temperatures, and marine ecology. 


For more information: 
svs.gsfc.nasa.gov/5213 

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