Astronaut Photography - Observing Earth's Systems from Space

El Nino

El Nino¹⁹ itself is being studied as part of the Crew Earth Observations program, with respect to both increased and deficit precipitation anomalies that can accompany El Nino events. El Nino promotes landslides, flooding, and extraordinary vegetation growth when local rainfall increases. Flooding can provide growth conditions favorable to increased disease-bearing mosquito populations²¹. Excessive vegetation growth can support temporary population explosions in other disease-bearing organisms²². Locally rainfall deficits create drought conditions that can expose lake bottoms as water levels fall, providing sources for dust storms. Droughts also increase famine and fire danger.

21. (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NasaNews/2002/200201177310.html Study Links El Nino to Deadly South American Disease)

22. (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/Hanta/ Hanta Virus Risk Maps)

Foreword >>
Introduction >>
Crew Earth Observations >>
          Dynamic Events >>
          Coral Reefs >>
          El Nino >>
          Smog >>
          Volcanic Eruptions >>
          Deltas >>
          Urban Areas >>
          Glaciers >>
References >>