The statement in the question is False. During an El Niño event, the ocean currents typically reverse their direction, flowing from east to west across the Pacific Ocean, rather than from south to north.
1. Explanation: In a normal scenario (non-El Niño conditions), the trade winds blow from east to west along the equator, causing warm surface waters to accumulate in the western Pacific near Australia and Indonesia. This creates a "pool" of warm water.
2. El Niño Event: During an El Niño event, these trade winds weaken or even reverse, allowing the warm water pool to move eastward towards the coast of South America. This movement of warm water alters weather patterns globally.
3. Current Direction: As a result of the weakened trade winds and the warming of ocean waters in the central and eastern Pacific, the current flows from east to west during El Niño, opposite to the normal pattern. This warm water movement impacts weather patterns, such as increased rainfall in parts of South America and droughts in Australia and Indonesia.
Understanding the direction of ocean currents during an El Niño event is crucial in comprehending the broader implications of this climate phenomenon on global weather patterns.
