El Niño Southern Oscillation
An exhibition developed by Parque Explora, Medellín and the Cité de l'espace de Toulouse
By Sinaloa Science Center
Materia, Sinaloa Science Center Museum
In the "Pasta" port, north of Peru at the Pacific Ocean, the fishermen noticed in December the water temperature increased, and fishing decreased. It happened around the day of the celebration of the birth of Jesus' child. That is why they named this water heating "El Niño phenomenon. In the years when the water is colder than average -with different consequences- the phenomenon is called "La Niña.
Fish or Lobsters (2017-07-30) by Parque Explora MedellínSinaloa Science Center
The warming of the waters on the Australian coasts causes the death of fish and corals. However, it brings a large number of lobsters.
Affecting crops (2017-07-30) by Parque Explora MedellínSinaloa Science Center
Implementation of fast-growing crops before an intense ENSO event lessens the economic impact of farmers.
family basket (2017-07-30) by Parque Explora MedellínSinaloa Science Center
The price of fruits and vegetables suffers an increase due to the ENSO phenomenon. Either due to drought or flooding of crops depending on the country.
Throughout history, different cultures have experienced various manifestations of this phenomenon known worldwide as ENSO (initials in English for the El Niño Southern Oscillation), of which El Niño and La Niña are part. Each population has faced very challenging and very different consequences.
Bees exhibit (2017-07-30) by Parque Explora MedellínSinaloa Science Center
During times of drought, depending on the place and the ENSO phase, bees decrease the search for pollen and nectar. There is no honey, and the crucial pollination of the plants does not occur either.
Seeds (-2017-07-30) by Parque Explora MedellínSinaloa Science Center
Organisms adapt to change. Through manual selection, agricultural research centers choose plants that are more resistant to climate change.
Migratory routes (2017-07-30) by Parque Explora MedellínSinaloa Science Center
Due to ENSO, some birds change their migration routes, and this results in the spread of diseases in areas where they were not frequent before
Warming of the waters (2017-07-30) by Parque Explora MedellínSinaloa Science Center
The warming of the waters by the El Niño phenomenon has caused the death of thousands of seabirds like the common murre that seek to feed, but without fish, that is not possible.
Although El Niño and La Niña have been known to everyone for only a few decades, some research shows that it has occurred at least in the last three million years. And now there is evidence showing that global warming intensifies the effects of ENSO
Adaptations (2017-07-30) by Parque Explora MedellínSinaloa Science Center
News (2017-07-30) by Parque Explora MedellínSinaloa Science Center
The boy and the girl are not extraordinary phenomena. They are events like rain or night. We know that there will be severe periods of drought or rain without being sure of the moment. An ENSO event can have devastating consequences if we are not prepared. What do you think?
El Niño y La Niña Exhibition Poster (2020-01-20) by Materia, Sinaloa Science Center MuseumSinaloa Science Center
The Niño and Niña (ENSO) (2020-01-20) by Materia, Sinaloa Science Center MuseumSinaloa Science Center
Materia Logo (2020-01-20) by Materia, Sinaloa Science Center MuseumSinaloa Science Center
The exhibition El Niño y La Niña developed by Parque Explora Medellín and the Cité de l'espace in Toulouse, is part of the inaugural cycle of Materia, the Museum of the Sinaloa Science Center
