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La Niņa translates from Spanish as "the girl-child". The term "La Niņa" has
recently become the conventional meteorological label for the opposite of the
better known El Niņo.
The term La Niņa refers to the extensive cooling of the central and eastern
Pacific Ocean. In Australia (particularly eastern Australia), La Niņa events
are associated with increased probability of wetter conditions.
Changes to the atmosphere and ocean circulation during La Niņa events include:
- Cooler than normal ocean temperatures across the central and eastern tropical
Pacific Ocean.
- Increased convection or cloudiness over tropical Australia, Papua New-Guinea,
and Indonesia.
- Stronger than normal (easterly) trade winds across the Pacific Ocean (but not
necessarily in the Australian region).
- High (positive) values of the SOI (Southern Oscillation Index).
A La Niņa event is sometimes called an anti-ENSO (anti-El Niņo-Southern Oscillation)
event.
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