US facing strongest El Nino since 1998
Oregonians continue experiencing warm winter, less rain with El Nino's warmer ocean surface temperatures
Mackenzie Fields
Issue date: 2/10/10 Section: News
By Mackenzie Fields
The Daily Barometer
Between those downpours that seem to begin just as students start their walks to class, some may be wondering why there seem to be so many sun breaks this time of year.
The U.S is currently experiencing the strongest El Nino year since 1998. This phenomenon is caused by ocean surface layers interfering with the tropical Pacific atmosphere off the coast of South America, usually occurring every four to five years.
"El Nino is the pacemaker of the global climate," said Philip Mote, OSU professor in the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences and director of Oregon Climate Services. "Right now we have quite a deficit."
Mote explained that typical El Nino events result in warmer ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific, with Oregon receiving warmer temperatures and slightly less precipitation.
The events tend to mean wet and stormy conditions in the Southwest and colder-than-average winters in the South, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service website.
Southern Oregon has felt the heat, with Medford recording its warmest January ever. Even Corvallis was close to matching their warmest January on record, with temperatures seven degrees above average.
Jon Lea, state hydrologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service said that snow packs in Oregon are currently only 67 percent of average, unlike areas in the Southwestern U.S., such as New Mexico with levels at 136 percent of average.
"In the western U.S. the main source of water comes from snowfall," Lea said. "El Nino affects anyone that needs water."
Western Oregon has seen the biggest deficit. Lea went on to say that the Pacific Decadal Oscillation is in a cold phase, which resulted in a rainy October and November, but that the El Nino conditions override this factor.
"The Willamette River and the Cascade Range have the lowest snow packs in the state," Lea said.
Some wonder what this means for tourism, stream flows, fisheries, power production and agriculture. Skiers and snowboarders might question whether their season passes were worth the money.
"The saving grace is what happens in springtime. This is very important," Lea said. "Heavy spring rains would help take the demand down."
"The story is still being written," Mote said in regard to what to expect later in the year. "The combination of lower temperatures and more rain to regain from the losses already is pretty unlikely during El Nino."
Mackenzie Fields, staff writer
737-2231, news@dailybarometer.com
The Daily Barometer
Between those downpours that seem to begin just as students start their walks to class, some may be wondering why there seem to be so many sun breaks this time of year.
The U.S is currently experiencing the strongest El Nino year since 1998. This phenomenon is caused by ocean surface layers interfering with the tropical Pacific atmosphere off the coast of South America, usually occurring every four to five years.
"El Nino is the pacemaker of the global climate," said Philip Mote, OSU professor in the College of Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences and director of Oregon Climate Services. "Right now we have quite a deficit."
Mote explained that typical El Nino events result in warmer ocean surface temperatures in the Pacific, with Oregon receiving warmer temperatures and slightly less precipitation.
The events tend to mean wet and stormy conditions in the Southwest and colder-than-average winters in the South, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service website.
Southern Oregon has felt the heat, with Medford recording its warmest January ever. Even Corvallis was close to matching their warmest January on record, with temperatures seven degrees above average.
Jon Lea, state hydrologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service said that snow packs in Oregon are currently only 67 percent of average, unlike areas in the Southwestern U.S., such as New Mexico with levels at 136 percent of average.
"In the western U.S. the main source of water comes from snowfall," Lea said. "El Nino affects anyone that needs water."
Western Oregon has seen the biggest deficit. Lea went on to say that the Pacific Decadal Oscillation is in a cold phase, which resulted in a rainy October and November, but that the El Nino conditions override this factor.
"The Willamette River and the Cascade Range have the lowest snow packs in the state," Lea said.
Some wonder what this means for tourism, stream flows, fisheries, power production and agriculture. Skiers and snowboarders might question whether their season passes were worth the money.
"The saving grace is what happens in springtime. This is very important," Lea said. "Heavy spring rains would help take the demand down."
"The story is still being written," Mote said in regard to what to expect later in the year. "The combination of lower temperatures and more rain to regain from the losses already is pretty unlikely during El Nino."
Mackenzie Fields, staff writer
737-2231, news@dailybarometer.com
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Elna
posted 2/10/10 @ 1:02 AM PST
Very interesting article! but I love to know what you think will El Nino bring for South Africa in the summer of 2010 especially for the summer rains in South Africa and for agriculture in South Africa. (Continued…)
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