Which one among the following statements is CORRECT regarding the El Niño event of the global climate system?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Refers to abnormal warming of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean
El Niño is the abnormal warming of the surface waters of the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, off the coast of Peru and Ecuador, that occurs every few years. The trade winds that normally push warm water west towards Indonesia and Australia weaken, so the warm water spreads back east across the Pacific and shifts the rain-bearing systems with it.
Why the other options are incorrect
Option (2) Refers to abnormal cooling of surface waters in the equatorial Pacific Ocean — Incorrect. Abnormal cooling of these waters is La Niña, the opposite phase of El Niño.
Option (3) It aids Indian monsoon rainfall. — Incorrect. El Niño usually weakens the Indian monsoon; drought years such as 2009 and 2015 were El Niño years.
Option (4) It causes high temperatures in the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean — Incorrect. The warm water moves east, so the western Pacific turns cooler and drier, bringing drought to Indonesia and Australia.