The Oryx Resource Guide to El Nio and La Nia

(Hardback)

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Description

Fish die. Seagulls starve. Economies wither. And that's just in the coastal villages. El Nino - "The Christ Child" - and its climatological opposite, La Nina, are global events so powerful and strange they virtually have personalities. Many remember the El Nino and La Nina seasons of 1982-83 and 1997-98, which brought floods, tornadoes, droughts and snow to unusual locales. Increased study of these tropical Pacific phenomena, also known as ENSO (the El Nino and Southern Oscillation), have now enabled scientists to predict the ENSO state as much as 12 to 18 months in advance and have helped to shape weather prediction in general. Here, the basic causes and effects of El Nino and La Nina are chronicled for anyone in search of information on these natural phenomena. Chapters are devoted to: the history of ENSO; its influence on global weather and on the United States, including the ecosystem; and how governments and industries world-wide are utilizing new weather data to harness ENSO's economic impact, rather than be saddled by it. A chronology tours key events, from the 15th-century diary observations of colonists in Ecuador and Peru, to more recent events like the devastating El Nino of 1997-98, which was responsible for 23,000 deaths and 33 billion dollars in damages. Biographies of important researchers, illustrations and maps and a bibliography are included.

Reviews

.,."an excellent resource for the most up-to-date information....This very readable book is recommended for all levels of readers interested in these once-obscure weather phenomena."-Choice
...an excellent resource for the most up-to-date information....This very readable book is recommended for all levels of readers interested in these once-obscure weather phenomena.-Choice
[t]he basic causes and effects of El Nino and La Nina are chronicled for those in search of information on these natural phenomena.-Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
This is a definite must have for university libraries. It is also a useful resource for public libraries, particularly those in areas that have been heavily affected by ENSO.-E-STREAMS
Well written and easily accessible, this work will appeal to anyone interested in learning more about the ENSO phenomena. A solid choice for public and academic libraries looking for materials on this topic.-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin
"the basic causes and effects of El Nino and La Nina are chronicled for those in search of information on these natural phenomena."-Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
..."an excellent resource for the most up-to-date information....This very readable book is recommended for all levels of readers interested in these once-obscure weather phenomena."-Choice
"[t]he basic causes and effects of El Nino and La Nina are chronicled for those in search of information on these natural phenomena."-Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society
"This is a definite must have for university libraries. It is also a useful resource for public libraries, particularly those in areas that have been heavily affected by ENSO."-E-STREAMS
"Well written and easily accessible, this work will appeal to anyone interested in learning more about the ENSO phenomena. A solid choice for public and academic libraries looking for materials on this topic."-Booklist/Reference Books Bulletin

Author Bio

JOSEPH S. D'ALEO has 30 years experience in professional meteorology. He has BS and MS degrees in meteorology from the University of Wisconsin and did doctoral studies in meteorology at New York University. He taught meteorology at the college level for over eight years and was a cofounder and the first director of meteorology at the cable TV Weather Channel, a position he held for seven years. He joined Weather Services International (WSI) in 1989, where he was a marketing manager and chief meteorologist. Currently, he is senior editor (also known as Dr. Dewpoint) for WSI's Intellicast Web site. D'Aleo is a Certified Consultant Meteorologist and was elected a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society. He has authored, presented, and published numerous papers focused on advanced applications enabled by new technologies and how research into ENSO and other atmospheric and oceanic phenomena has made possible skillful seasonal forecasts.