Earth and the Environment

What causes an ENSO?

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While the ENSO results from the dynamic and thermodynamic interactions among the atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces, exactly what initiates an ENSO is unclear. It seems certain that pressure changes and wind currents play a vital role. Some researchers have implicated the greenhouse effect (see global warming ), while others have attributed it to activity occurring on the ocean floor, such as underwater earthquakes.

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Get more facts and information about El Niño-Southern Oscillation . Or, view the full encyclopedia entry from The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition.

Similar questions: Does the greenhouse effect cause El Niño? What causes El Niño-Southern Oscillation? Does global warming cause El Niño? [ Hide these questions ]

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