Climate Variability (El Nino, La Nina)

Typical Exam Questions

1. What natural variations of climate make difficult the detection of anthropogenic climate change?

2. El Nino / La Nina

What is an El Nino?
Discuss how it affects global weather patterns.
Discuss how and why phenomena like El Nino may lead to more accurate long-term weather forecasts.

3. Give physical arguments to describe why an El Nino can at the same time cause a temporary collapse of the Peruvian anchovy fishing industry and wheat production in Australia.

4. Discuss how forecasts of El Nino, a season in advance, are being used in South America.