Temperature Changes in

Global Climate Systems

ENSO
El Niño
The El Niño phenomenon, officially called the El
Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
El Niño
 The ENSO refers to the large scale warming of the
pacific ocean and atmosphere across the central
and east-central Equatorial Pacific.
El Niño
 It is the observed periodic increase of ocean water
by around 0.50 degrees Celsius or 0.9 degrees
Fahrenheit from its normal value in the equatorial
Pacific’s sea surface temperature or SST.
 This event begins with the heating up of the Pacific Ocean
near the equator.
 Trade winds in the ITCZ would move the heated waters
westward toward Southeast Asia, while some global winds
blow the warmer waters and air toward the western portion of
the Americas.
 In effect, winter seasons in Canada and the
western portions of the United States become
warmer than the average temperatures.
 In like manner, warming takes place in the
Philippines during the cold season of December.
Duration
It happens every 3-5 years and would last
for about 9-12 months (National Weather Service, 2006)
El Niño
The deeper, warmer water of El Nino limits
the amount of nutrient rich deep water and
since fish can no longer access this rich
food source, many of them die.
Climatic Condition
The different water temperatures tend to
change the weather or promote climate
variability in the affected areas.
La Niña
La Nina is associated with extreme climatic
variability such as devastating rains, winds,
drought, anomalies in rainfall, temperature
and tropical cyclone activities
La Niña
 It begins in the eastern part of the Pacific Ocean,
much similar to the location of El Nino.
 The SST during this period become lower by 3-5
degrees Celsius.
 Cyclones formed during this time shift westward
going to the direction of China.
 In effect, the Philippines is affected by the
excessive rainfall and cold temperatures.
Heat Waves
Heat Waves
 Heat can kill by pushing the human body
temperature beyond its limits.
 Elderly people, young children, and those who are
sick or overweight are more likely to become
victims of extreme heat.
 Men sweat more than women so they are more susceptible
to heat illness and become more quickly dehydrated.
 Excessive heat that lasts for more than two days significantly
increases heat-related illnesses.
 People living in urban areas may be at greater risk from the
effects of a prolonged heat wave than people living in rural
regions.
 Plan changes in your daily activities to avoid strenuous work
during the warmest part of the day. Instead, do it in the
morning between 4:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m.
 During a drought, conserve water by placing a brick, or
another large solid object, in your toilet tank to reduce the
amount of water used in flushing.
 Stay indoors as much as possible.
 Avoid extreme temperature changes like a cool shower
immediately after coming in from hot temperatures which can
result to hypothermia.
 Keep cool.
 Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing that will
cover as much skin as possible.
 Protect face and head by wearing a wide brimmed hat.
 Drink plenty of water even if you do not feel thirsty, to prevent
dehydration.
 Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine which can also cause
dehydration.
 Eat frequent small meals for easy digestion.
 Use salt tablets or table salt because it retains fl uids.
Remember that…
 It is important that we are all aware of these
climatic conditions so that we would know how to
respond or to adapt to them by “intervening” in a
way that we are able to decrease the rate of
change. We cannot stop the process, but we can
influence the kind of change that takes place.
 Recent tragedies experienced by the country
speaks of how vulnerable the country is to all
forms of hazards.
 The Ormoc catastrophic flash flood (November 5,
1991): More than 5000 people perished.
Unusually heavy, continuous rains brought by
tropical storm Uring caused landslides and
flashfloods and the collapse of Anilao Bridge.
 Cherry Hill tragedy (August 1999): Three
consecutive days of persistent moderate to heavy
rains caused mud to cascade into the Cherry Hill
leaving 378 houses damaged and 58 people killed.
 Baguio-La Trinidad landslides (July 2001): A
record-breaking 24-hour rainfall of 1085.8
millimeters was registered at Baguio City causing
widespread landslides and flashfloods, killing 85
persons in Baguio and La Trinidad area alone.
 Payatas garbage-slide (July 10, 2000): Continuous
moderate to heavy monsoon rains over Metro
Manila for several days caused the collapse of the
Payatas garbage pile, resulting in 224 deaths and
100 houses destroyed.
 Camiguin flashfloods (November 7, 2001): Heavy continuous
rains for about 10 hours caused flashfloods carrying landslide
debris of boulders, uprooted trees, loose soil, etc. rushing
from the mountainside burying 134 residents alive and
damaging vegetation and structures.
 Aurora-Infanta floods (November-December 2004): Heavy
rains triggered major landslides; cleansed the forests of its
debris resulting in heavy damage and casualty downstream
along rivers and coastal areas in eastern Luzon (1,068 dead,
damage estimate - P7,615.98M).
 Brgy. Guinsaugon, Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte landslide
(February 17, 2006): A landslide hit Southern Leyte that
almost wiped out the entire 480 hectares in Brgy.
Guinsaugon, one of the 16 villages of the town of St.
Bernard, leaving in its wake 154 dead, 28 injured, 410
registered survivors and 968 still missin