Description

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Context

Australia's rising temperatures, driven by climate change, are intensifying heatwaves, wildfires, and coral bleaching, impacting ecosystems and public health.

Geography of Australia

Feature	Details
Continent	Australia (smallest continent)
Total Area	~7.69 million km² (6th largest country)
Coastline	~25,760 km
Highest Point	Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m)
Lowest Point	Lake Eyre (-15 m)
Major Deserts	Great Victoria Desert, Simpson Desert, Great Sandy Desert
Longest River	Murray River (~2,508 km)
Largest Lake	Lake Eyre (seasonal)
Climate Zones	Tropical (north), Arid (central), Temperate (south)
Major Mountain Ranges	Great Dividing Range, MacDonnell Ranges, Flinders Ranges
Natural Wonders	Great Barrier Reef, Uluru, Blue Mountains
Major Islands	Tasmania, Fraser Island, Kangaroo Island
Neighboring Oceans & Seas	Indian Ocean (west), Pacific Ocean (east), Southern Ocean (south), Coral Sea, Timor Sea
Biodiversity	Home to unique species like kangaroos, koalas, and platypuses

ENSO

El Nino and the Southern Oscillation, also known as ENSO is a periodic fluctuation in sea surface temperature (El Niño) and the air pressure of the overlying atmosphere (Southern Oscillation) across the equatorial Pacific Ocean.

El Nino and La Nina are complex weather patterns resulting from variations in ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific Region. They are opposite phases of what is known as the ENSO cycle.

El Nino and La Nina episodes typically last nine to 12 months, but some prolonged events may last for years.

Aspect	El Niño	La Niña
Definition	Unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean	Unusual cooling of the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean
Phase	Warm phase of ENSO	Cool phase of ENSO
Duration	Usually lasts 9–12 months, but some events can last years	May last between 1 and 3 years
Frequency	Occurs more frequently than La Niña	Less frequent than El Niño
Peak Season	Typically peaks during Northern Hemisphere winter	Typically peaks during Northern Hemisphere winter
Impact on Weather	Causes the Pacific jet stream to shift south, making northern US and Canada drier and warmer, while the US Gulf Coast and Southeast become wetter with increased flooding	Causes the Pacific jet stream to move northward, leading to droughts in Peru and Ecuador, and increased flooding in Australia
Impact on South America	Brings heavy rainfall to South America	Causes droughts in Peru and Ecuador
Impact on Marine Life	Weakens or stops upwelling, reducing nutrient availability, affecting fish populations and disrupting marine ecosystems	Increases upwelling, bringing cold, nutrient-rich water to the surface, benefiting the fishing industry in western South America
Impact on Asia & Australia	Causes droughts in Indonesia and Australia	Brings heavy rainfall and flooding to Australia
Impact on Hurricanes	Can suppress hurricane activity in the Atlantic Ocean	Can lead to a more severe hurricane season
Temperature Effects	Warmer waters in the eastern Pacific, affecting global weather patterns	Increased temperatures in the Western Pacific, Indian Ocean, and off the Somalian coast