El Niño

National Geographic Society

This National Geographic video explains the origins of the El Niño Southern Oscillation using animations and shows the impacts on humans, wildlife and habitat, particularly in the United States.

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Notes from our reviewers

The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials.

Use this resource to lead a discussion of the differences between climate variability and climate change. The images are not annotated, so the educator may have to pause and explain what some of the graphics are.
The video addresses climate variability, not climate change, so the educator needs to explain that distinction. There is no clear link between climate change and ENSO and the video is not trying to make that link. Comment from expert scientist: This is an excellent graphic depiction of El Niño and its consequences. The depiction of the relocation of the centers of convection over the Pacific margins is particularly good. The incorporation of real data - superimposed on the globe - is also excellent and memorable.