El Nino Theme Page

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El Niño Theme Page

This "Theme Page" has links to two types of information related to the study of El Niño. Students and teachers will find curricular resources (information, content...) to help them learn about this topic. In addition, there are also links to instructional materials (lesson plans) which will help teachers provide instruction in this theme. Please read our disclaimer.

El Niño

An instructional module from the University of Illinois which introduces El Niño, describes the conditions responsible for its occurrence, and outlines the impact it has on the rest of the world (e.g., weather, economy). Also provided are data on non-El Niño years, sea-surface temperature plots, detection and prediction information.
El Nino: Canadian Effects: Learn about the effect of El Nina on all of Canada or specific Canadian regions.
[The] El Niño: The Institute of Ocean Sciences (IOS) of Fisheries and Oceans Canada provides this British Columbia resource. Included is information on: An Historical Sketch; What is the effect of El Niño on B.C. coastal waters? Brief notes on the biological impacts; How does El Niño work? How does this affect higher latitudes? El Niño forecasting - how are we doing? The Current Situation.
El Niño and La Nina: "USA Today" sponsors this site which provides not only general background information articles but also links to current news stories about El Niño's impact around the world.
El Nino or El No-no: In this Web Quest, students learn more about El Nino and La Nina Cycles by collecting and analyzing data and sharing their findings in a speculation paper.
El Niño Loss Reduction Center: The US Federal Emergency Management Agency provides wide ranging information on the potential disruptive effects of El Niño.
El Niño Versus Non-El Niño Years: A lesson plan for students in grades 9-12 in which they compare and contrast El Niño data. Note: the actual data are not provided as part of this lesson plan but they should be available from other sites on this web page.
El Niño:Understanding and Predicting via Our Current Technology: An on-line course for students in grades 9-12. In addition to basic information about El Niño, there are links to research information and other El Niño sites, access to earth science data, and connections to Earth scientists and Earth science teachers.
El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Information: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) provides: What happens during an "El Niño"? A 3-D animation of the tropical Pacific ocean during a simulated ENSO cycle; What are the effects of ENSO on climate? What is the current state of El Niño? Some differences between recent El Niño events; What is the state of the current climate? What are the forecasts for El Niño? Resources for teachers.
Exploring the Environment: El Nino: This module is part of "Exploring the Environment"� (ETE) from NASA's Classroom of the Future�. In ETE, high school students are faced with a real life problem and their goal is to use problem solving skills and internet based data (e.g., remotely sensed satellite images) to propose and defend a solution. A Teacher's Guide is available. This link is to the ETE home page since it gives the easiest access to necessary introductory and teacher information. To access the El Nino module, click on "Modules and Activities" and then "El Nino".
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA): This US government site has answers to frequently asked questions, information on impacts of El Niño, forecasts, and access to related data.
Science with Noaa Research: El Nino: An instructional module from the University of Illinois which introduces El Niño, describes the conditions responsible for its occurrence, and outlines the impact it has on the rest of the world (e.g., weather, economy). Also provided are data on non-El Niño years, sea-surface temperature plots, detection and prediction information.
Tracking El Nino: This Nova Online Web Site explores different aspects of El Nino including an Anatomy of El Nino, Chasing El Nino and and El Nino's Reach. You can also read a correspondent's dispatches on El Nino for a PBS/Online Adventure.

Note: The sites listed above will serve as a source of information about El Niño. For other resources in Science (e.g., curricular content in Earth Science, General Science, Life Science, or Physical Science), or for lesson plans and theme pages, click the "previous screen" button below. Or, click here if you wish to return directly to the CLN menu which will give you access to educational resources in all of our subjects.