Why El Nino Can Cause Long Drought? Here's the Answer
YOGYAKARTA - The phenomenon of why El Nino can cause a long drought is an important question for the Indonesian people, especially farmers, agricultural actors, and local governments.
El Niño is not just a normal weather change, but a global climate pattern that significantly affects rainfall patterns in tropical regions, including the archipelago. This article will discuss in depth the mechanism behind the phenomenon, as well as its impacts and ways to anticipate it.
What is El Nino?
El Niño is a warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. It occurs when the surface temperature of the sea water in the central and eastern Pacific Ocean increases abnormally, usually rising 0.5°C to 3°C above the average. This condition weakens the trade winds that usually blow from east to west.
In normal conditions, the prevailing winds push warm water to the west, so that Indonesian and Australian waters have relatively warm sea temperatures. Cold water rises to the surface in the eastern Pacific (upwelling). When El Niño occurs, warm water shifts eastward towards Peru and Ecuador. As a result, waters around Indonesia become colder than usual.
The Mechanism of Why El Nino Causes Long DroughtWhy El Nino can cause a long drought can be explained through hydrological cycle disturbances. Cooler sea temperatures in Indonesia reduce the process of massive evaporation of seawater. Reduced evaporation causes the formation of rain clouds to be less and weaker.
In addition, changes in air pressure in the Pacific shift the path of monsoons and tropical convection. Usually, Indonesia gets high rainfall from the Asian-Australian monsoon. In the El Niño period, especially June-July-August (JJA) and September-October-November (SON), rainfall in almost all regions of Indonesia decreases drastically.
A strong El Niño like the one in 1997-1998 has caused severe drought. Rainfall can fall up to 50-70% below average, extending the dry season for several months. Eastern Indonesia such as Nusa Tenggara and Maluku are more vulnerable, but Sumatra, Kalimantan, and Java also feel the serious impact. Read also: Dwikorita Karnawati: The Impact of the El Nino Phenomenon is Not a Joke
Long Drought Impact Due to El Nino
The long drought has brought various consequences:
Agriculture and Food Security: Drought causes crop failures, reduced production of rice, corn, and cash crops. Farmers have difficulty irrigating their fields. Water Availability: Reservoirs, rivers, and lakes have experienced a significant decrease in water volume, triggering a clean water crisis for households and industries. Forest and Land Fires: Dry peatlands are easily flammable, producing thick smoke that disrupts health and transportation (smog). Economic and Social: Food pricesSo after knowing why El Nino can cause a long drought, check out other interesting news at VOI.ID, it's time to revolutionize reporting!