What is La Niña? Learn its meaning, impact on India’s monsoon and climate, and how it differs from El Niño. (Image Credit: UN News - the United Nations)
La Niña is a climate phenomenon where surface ocean water in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean cools. "La Niña" is Spanish for "the little girl" and is referred to as the complement of El Niño, which describes warmer-than-normal Pacific waters. Collectively, they are part of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, which affects global weather. What Does La Niña Mean for the Weather?
La Niña makes the trade winds blowing from east to west over the Pacific stronger. This drives warm water towards Asia, and colder water rises near the Americas. Because of this, areas all around the world feel changed in terms of rainfall and temperature. For instance, La Niña tends to give global average temperatures that are lower, more rain in Southeast Asia and Australia, and less rain in areas of South America.
In India, La Niña is usually associated with heavier monsoons. The cooling of the Pacific extends to the Indian Ocean circulation, resulting in moisture-laden winds and extensive rainfall. This tends to give rise to:
But the impact is not consistent each year it may differ based on other climatic patterns like the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).
El Niño and La Niña are strong climate drivers that influence weather worldwide. For India, La Niña is generally regarded as a boon for the agricultural season with heavy monsoons, whereas El Niño is a cause of concern regarding drought. Governments, farmers, and industries understand these trends so they can plan for their effects on water, crops, and climate stability in general.
