The Impacts of El Niño/Southern Oscillation on Changing Precipitation over the Tropical Pacific

This study employed Sea Surface Temperature (SST) and Precipitation data to investigate the variability in the El Nino/Southern Oscillation, ENSO (La Nina, El Nino) and its impact on the intensity of precipitation over the Tropical Pacific. The recent La Nina and El Nino episodes were compared in the study to establish the relationship between variability in the ENSO and the associated precipitation. The results suggest that an increase in the strength of a La Nina event will tend to reduce the overall amount of rainfall over the Tropical Pacific while the intensity of the precipitation rises as the strength of El Nino event increases in the region. Also, the changes in the precipitation are largest in December – April during which the ENSO events are strongest under the influence of SST, which is highest over the equatorial Pacific during the period. The outcome of this investigative study would help to improve crop yield through reliable forecast of ENSO and that of the precipitation by proper monitoring of the SST with special focus on periods favourable for ENSO development.