As La Niña conditions become more likely, you may be hearing about all the disadvantages this climate pattern brings. However, did you know La Niña also causes some positive effects on our planet?

El Niño Southern Oscillation, ENSO is a climate pattern that appears over the tropical Pacific. Its positive (El Niño) or its negative (La Niña) phases bring impacts all over the world.

For us here in the western hemisphere, when La Niña is present, we often hear about drought, warmer temperatures than usual and if it happens close to or during hurricane season, it just adds to the chances of having above-average tropical activity.

When we zoom out, away from the United States, we can notice some benefits that La Niña brings to other parts of the world.

The longest El Nino in the modern record lasted 18 months, while the longest La Niña lasted 33 months.

For South America, La Niña increases gains for the fishing industry on its western coast. This is because the upwelling causes nutrient-rich waters to reach the surface, which brings high-value fish species closer to the surface.

More rain is detected in southeastern Africa and northern Brazil. This could be good or bad. If it’s too much, it can cause flooding, but if it is near average or slightly above average, then it prevents wildfires, protecting crucial forests and wildlife.

Rain, especially in rainforests, ultimately benefits us all across the Globe. After all, the forests are the lungs of our planet.

In Southeast Asia, like in northwest India and Bangladesh, the summer monsoon gets a good bump, which contributes positively to the agricultural industry.