Which mechanism causes increased surface water temperatures during El Niño events in the Pacific Ocean?

💡 Explanation

When trade winds weaken, surface waters driven westward by these winds slow and can even reverse because the pressure gradient weakens, reducing upwelling of colder water and resulting in warmer surface temperatures. Therefore a weakening of trade winds results, rather than increased upwelling, thermocline depth increase, or a stronger Humboldt current which all oppose warming.

• Which consequence results when increased sediment load overwhelms channel capacity in a proglacial stream?
• Which mechanism generates stable, slow-moving 'laminar' flow in a meandering stream channel?
• Which horizon generation occurs because extensive leaching concentrates recalcitrant minerals during pedogenesis?
• Which outcome occurs because of increased runoff into subtropical gyres?
• Which erosion process primarily sculpts cirques within glaciated mountain ranges?
• Which outcome results when a levee's soil lacks compaction?