While snow is a vivid symbol of cold weather, those wondering "how does this fit with global warming?" are asking the wrong question. According to experts, the El Niño phenomenon -- a cyclic warming of temperatures and related climatic patterns -- is to blame for the heavy snowfall that has blanketed large areas of the country this winter. Even frozen precipitation requires moisture in the air, and moisture in the air increases with warmer temperatures.
> The Habitable Planet: A Systems Approach to Environmental Science discusses El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the online textbook for unit 3: http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/unit/text.php?unit=3&secNum=5 The text includes an illustration of normal versus El Niño conditions. Also read this interview http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/scientist/transcripts/cane.html with Mark Cane, Professor of Earth and Climate Sciences at Columbia University, who discusses mathematical modeling and the El Niño phenomenon.
> Watch Planet Earth http://www.learner.org/resources/series49.html program 3, "The Climate Puzzle," for a compelling look at forces influencing global climate.
> Our Weather interactive http://www.learner.org/interactives/weather/ begins with a description of the El Niño phenomenon and related weather effects as an example of how cyclical changes have played a role in Earth's climate over thousands and millions of years.
> For basic information on the conditions that create weather and climate on Earth, plus activities you can use with younger students, see Science in Focus: Shedding Light on Science workshop 8, "Wind and Weather." http://www.learner.org/workshops/sheddinglight/workshop8.html
> The Habitable Planet: A Systems Approach to Environmental Science discusses El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the online textbook for unit 3: http://www.learner.org/
> Watch Planet Earth http://www.learner.org/
> Our Weather interactive http://www.learner.org/
> For basic information on the conditions that create weather and climate on Earth, plus activities you can use with younger students, see Science in Focus: Shedding Light on Science workshop 8, "Wind and Weather." http://www.learner.org/
Comment: The question is, in turn, whether global warming affects the El Niño / La Niña cycle. As global warming takes place, sea levels rise due to the melting of ice packs and the expansion of warming water. There may also be changes in ocean currents. The sea surface temperatures associated with the El Niño / La Niña cycle may also be higher as the average water temperatures are higher. Models predict that global warming will not simply increase all temperatures everywhere the same amount, but will change weather and climate patterns. JAD
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