Introduction
Happy Tuesday! Today is Tuesday May 26th, 2026. In the news recently, meteorologists have been predicting a strong El Nino weather pattern in the next couple months. But what does El Nino mean… and no it does not just mean “the little boy”. In today’s newsletter, we will dive into the two main specific weather patterns that occur every 2-7 years; El Nino and La Nina.
What are El Niño and La Niña
Before diving into the specific weather patterns, it is important to understand the weather conditions during a normal calendar year. El Nino and La Nina events occur most directly in the Pacific Ocean and have contradictory characteristics in the western Pacific (Australia and Western Asia) and in the eastern Pacific (Eastern South America and Western United States). While these weather patterns occur directly in the Pacific Ocean, the effects are demonstrated all throughout the globe. Characteristics of weather including precipitation and hurricane activity occur because of trade winds and sea surface temperatures. Weather begins with wind and specifically Trade Winds; which typically move from East to West. During a neutral year, the western Pacific is generally more tropical than the eastern Pacific. This means that the western Pacific is warmer and higher in precipitation that the eastern Pacific which is cool and dry. Humans in South American countries economically benefit from these neutral conditions by upwelling which occurs during a neutral and La Nina year. Upwelling is the process where warm sea surface water is blown away by wind which leads to cold, nutrient-rich water moving up to sea surface. Cold and nutrient-rich water comes with fish which bring more fish to fisheries in South America.
El Nino
During an El Nino event, which is predicted to be strong this year, trade winds in the Pacific are unusually weak. This means that wind pushes less warm water towards the western Pacific, it makes the eastern Pacific tropical. The western Pacific becomes cooler because there is a lower amount of warm water which leads to an increase in upwelling and cooler and dryer weather patterns. During an El Nino event in the eastern Pacific there is increased flooding because of a high moisture content which leads to heavy rainfall. Because of warmer sea surface temperatures during an El Nino event there is a decrease in upwelling in the eastern Pacific. This decrease in upwelling can be detrimental to fisheries and can cause a collapse in the fishing industry. El Nino also leads to an increase in hurricane activity in the Pacific Ocean and a decrease in hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean.
La Nina
During a La Nina event, the weather conditions are essentially the opposite of that during an El Nino event. The western Pacific is even more tropical than usual with an increase in precipitation and an increase in temperatures. The eastern Pacific is characterized by cooler temperatures and dryer conditions. Also, during a La Nina year, there is an increase in upwelling and the fishing industry booms. These conditions occur because there are stronger trade winds that push warm water towards the western pacific. This also leads to an increase in hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean and a decrease in hurricane activity in the Pacific Ocean.
Weekly News
This week it was revealed that 16 Trump-appointed officials to the Environmental Protection Agency were paid more than $2.8 million by large chemical cooperations and trade groups in hopes of a significant decrease in the severance of the federal disaster management system that protects the nation from chemical dangers. Under Biden’s EPA, large chemical cooperations were left shocked when the federal disaster management system was strengthened, which put chemical cooperations on the hot seat. However, it was revealed that 23 chemical companies and 8 trade associations paid EPA officials $2.8 million dollars in hopes of weakening the strength of the federal disaster management system. Unfortunately, it has worked, in February Trump’s EPA proposed revisions to the federal disaster management system that could leave our ecosystems at risk of harm.
Environmental Ed Check
Which type of candy becomes more expensive to buy during an El Niño year?
A. Gummy Bears
B. Laffy Taffy's
C. Chocolate Bars
D. Peppermint Sticks
Correct answer at the end of the newsletter!
Weather Wrap Up
That will wrap it up for this week’s edition of The Environmental Edit. I hope you enjoyed the read and are now know what to expect for this year’s super El Nino. The Answer was C- may need to rethink what candy you buy this year for Halloween. As always, make sure to share this with family and friends to spread environmental awareness. If you are not already subscribed, it is free to do at theenvironmentaledit.com. Have a great rest of your day! Tuesdays for a greener tomorrow!