The Oryx resource guide to El Niño and La Niña. / Joseph S. D'Aleo with Pamela G. Grube.

Presents the basic causes and effects of El NIño and La Niña on weather, the environment, and the global economies, and what governments and industries worldwide are currently doing about it. Chapter 1 covers the history of the El Nino Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Chapter 2 defines the causes of the oscillations and how the atmosphere and ocean work together. Chapter 3 presents the effects of ENSO on the global weather. Chapter 4 covers the effects of weather in the U.S. specifically in Winter and Spring. Chapter 5 discusses the effects of weather in the U.S. for Summer and Fall. Chapter 6 discusses the effects of these phenomena on the ecosystems of the world, which includes human health, and the spread of infectious diseases, with the wide ranging effects on marine and animal life. Chapter 7 shows how scientists study and track the ENSO phenomena of El Niño and La Niña, including how real -time observations are made, and current measures of strength. Chapter 8 presents advances scientists have made in predicting the ENSO state as much as 12 to 18 months in advance. Chapter 9 discusses Super El Niño events, specifically the events in 1982-1983 and of 1997-1998. Chapter 11 discusses the fact that the ENSO relationship with the weather may just be the tip of the iceberg in climate prediction. Chapter 12 offers brief biographies of nine pioneers and key people involved in ENSO research over the past century.