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El Niño Sediment Plume Example

The El Niño phenomenon is also known as El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is very important to scientists. Unusually warm waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean characterize an El Niño event. It is important to understand El Niño because it effects global weather patterns and Pacific Ocean fishing industries.

These are exactly the kind of events that can be better understood using the "Plumes and Blooms" data.

In early February 1998 El Niño generated storms resulted in nearly two-thirds of the Santa Barbara Channel being inundated with freshwater, terrestrial sediments, agricultural runoff, and other debris. This inundation was caused by large El Niño related sediment plumes.

When looking for evidence of sediment plumes two important water properties are Lithogenic Silicone and Biogenic Silicone. Which are abbreviated in the data as Lsi and Bsi.

El Niño Plume Data Sets

Spring 1998 (PRO3.1)
Fall 1998 (PRO4.3)

 

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