Chile

International

Chile
Mexico
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El Niño refers to a change in the ocean's surface area that occurs off the South American West coast which can last for several months. During El Niño, sea temperatures and atmospheric humidity can increase, causing a change in normal convection patterns, thereby displacing the 'normal' area of convergence and associated rains, and modifying atmospheric circulation.

International

> 100,000 km²

> 100,000

100 - 1,000

> 10,000

> 100 M USD

End of May, 1997: Heavy precipitation causing 10,000 homeless, and damage to infrastructures and the fishing sector.

9 October 9 1997: Hurricane Pauline, a category 4 storm, hit Mexico causing fatalities, injuries and damage.

October 1997: rainfall deficit in Colombia. This cause problems for agriculture, ship navigation due to low river levels, and large forest fires.

November 1997: heavy rains along the coast of Ecuador and Northern Peru. In Ecuador landslides were caused and heavy surf affecting coastal communities was reported.

End November: Floods and strong winds caused by El Niño were reported in Brazil, and over 12,000 people lost their homes.

December: Intense rains in Peru, causing floods and landslides. In Paraguay, a river overflowed, flooding many urban areas (Asuncion, Alberdi, San Pedro, President Hayes, Alto Paraguay, Concepcion).

Late January and early February 1998: In Peru, flash floods into the already rain-swollen Ica River caused serious damage.

Beginning of February 1998, heavy rains in Bolivia. An avalanche in a mining area left more than 65 dead and 125 injured. At the same time, over 300,000 people suffered from drought in the high valleys and sections of the altiplano.

March 1998: the Government of Peru estimated that 600 km of its road network had been destroyed. A lake formed in the middle of the Sechura desert, which is one of the most curious ENSO-related effects.

April 1998: Argentina suffered from extreme storms accompanied by heavy precipitation. Floods throughout Argentina affected almost 300,000 people and damaged roads and agriculture. Also Uruguay was affected by severe floods.

May 1998: Continuing extreme rain in Paraguay. At the same time, Costa Rica experience a reduction in rainfall during the rainy season.

El Niño also caused numerous forest fires in Mexico and Central America which burned out of control in June and required international response support. Overall, ca. 2.9 million hectares were burned. In Florida, in June ca. 200,000 hectares were burned.

http://mona.uwi.edu/cardin/virtual_library/docs/1062/doc10955-1.pdf