The Way Latina

The rainy season in Latin America which extends generally from May till November, was particularly violent this year 2010. These pouring rains which came down recently in South America as in Colombia or in Venezuela are the consequence in particular of the climatic phenomenon of “La Niña” (the girl in Spanish, in comparison with “El Niño”). This phenomenon usually pulls strong fluctuations in the climate with more cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean and in the strong rains in South Asia as well as in Latin America.

Contrary to “El Niño” (literally “roaming from the baby Jesus” who begins generally by December 25th) which provokes an increase of the temperatures of the Pacific Ocean, “La Niña” is characterized by anormally low temperatures of waters of surface in the central and oriental sector of the Pacific. These waters which are brought on the other side of the Pacific provoke a decline of the atmospheric pressure with an increase of the precipitation on the coast is from South America (especially in the North of Brazil, in Peru) with possibilities of important floods in usually desert regions.

“La Niña” called also the anti-Niño, which would be in reality the normal situation of the atmospheric condition, arises generally after a period of 2 to 7 years of the phenomenon “del Niño”. The last one Niña goes back up in 2007-2008 and was followed by the phenomenon “El Niño” influencing the climate on numerous regions during almost two years. “El Niño” left finally again its place since July with the phenomenon “La Niña”.Even if there is a correlation between “El Niño” and “La Niña”, there is really no constancy between 2 phenomena. The scientists consider only a third of the cases bringing to light this dependence.

“La Niña” has already provoked violent torrent rains, has already made more than 130 deaths in Mexico, more than 400 in Central America (among which 263 in Guatemala), 150 deaths in Colombia. Around thirty death in Venezuela and obviously thousands of victims in all the Latin America.

While the rainy season should be ended since in the middle of November in Latin America, “La Niña” could again provoke of numerous damage. According to Rupa Kumar Kolli, researcher to the world meteorological Organization (WMO), “The conditions of”La Niña“moderated in strong are henceforth established well in the Pacific”. He added that this episode still would sévire counterparts even next months with a possibility of increase of the phenomenon.