El Nino is

Correct option is A

The correct answer is (a) a warm ocean current

Explanation:

• El Niño is a climate phenomenon involving the unusual warming of surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean, especially near the equatorial region off the coast of South America.
• It is part of a larger cycle known as the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which affects global weather patterns, including monsoons, droughts, floods, and temperature anomalies.

Information Booster:

El Niño and La Niña (ENSO Phenomena):

El Niño and La Niña are opposite phases of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, which represents periodic fluctuations in sea surface temperatures and atmospheric conditions in the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

Key Features:

• ENSO Cycle: Describes the interaction between the ocean and atmosphere in the east-central equatorial Pacific.
• These events typically last 9 to 12 months, but can occasionally persist longer.
• Both phenomena usually peak during the Northern Hemisphere winter.

El Niño (Warm Phase):

• Involves unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific.
• Occurs more frequently than La Niña.
• Leads to a drop in atmospheric pressure over the Pacific.
• First noted by Peruvian fishermen, named El Niño ("The Little Boy" in Spanish) due to its occurrence around Christmas.
• Associated with disrupted weather patterns globally.
• Occurs irregularly at intervals of 2 to 7 years.

La Niña (Cool Phase):

• Characterized by unusual cooling of surface waters in the same region.
• Typically lasts longer than El Niño (1 to 3 years).
• Results in increased atmospheric pressure over the eastern Pacific.
• Often brings opposite climatic effects to those of El Niño.

Southern Oscillation:

• Refers to changes in air pressure patterns across the tropical Pacific Ocean.
• When combined with ocean temperature anomalies, it forms the complete ENSO phenomenon.