Since late 2015, Earth has been experiencing a variety of global effects. El Niño, which is a periodic warming of the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, makes the surface temperatures above average.
These changes have been seen in many ways, positive and negative. For example, California has been receiving great amounts of rain, which has helped with agriculture. California has been in a series of droughts for many years, but the rain is not nearly enough to make up for the droughts. However, this long lasting weather pattern has caused droughts in Indonesia and Australia. Also, crop failure has been experienced in Africa.
The effects of El Niño are not just experienced by humans, but also by many sea creatures. Since the temperature is warmed, there is a lack of nutrients. The most affected are jellyfish, whose population usually declines during this period of time. Also, fish lack many nutrients so they become smaller in size.
Although El Niño usually happens every two years, it is not always as strong as it has been this year. Though the strength of El Niño is declining, this weather pattern is expected to be followed by the “after storm” known as La Niña expected this fall.
Regardless of the unusually warm winter in Chicago, coupled with low amounts of snow, spring weather has remained characteristic of erratic Chicago weather with cold temperatures and snow flurries.