240 Chapter 10 Tropical and Southern Hemisphere Climates

The impact of such a change is profound. First,
ecosystem balance is altered, as the indigenous eco-
system largely depends on the existence of upwelling
of nutrient-rich cold water. Warming of the sea surface
and a net decrease in nutrients fundamentally change
the regional oceanic food chain. Second, the increased
sea surface temperatures destabilize the overlying
atmosphere, leading to low-pressure anomalies that
induce clouds and precipitation in a normally stable,
clear, and dry environment. The positive precipitation
anomalies wreak havoc on local ecosystems. Flooding
and mudslides are commonplace throughout western
South America during warm-ENSO events.
The El Niño impact carries to other regions as well.
Displacement of the usual high pressure over western
South America causes a displacement of atmospheric
flow across the tropics, including the area over the Am-
azon Basin. The typically low atmospheric pressure of
the Amazon Basin gives way to much higher pressures,
clearer skies, and reduced precipitation during warm-
ENSO events. Because of the high temperatures, the
basin depends on frequent and heavy daily rainfall totals
to avoid a deficit. Without diurnal thunderstorms the
region may dessicate quickly. The resulting ENSO-induced
drought causes considerable stress on the ecosystem.
La Niña events also cause environmental stresses
throughout South America. The anomalously cold waters
off the western coast of the continent cause unusually
dry conditions (even in environments that are normally
dry) through the western regions. Over Amazonia the
opposite occurs, with heavy afternoon rains.
▸▸ Climatic Setting of Antarctica
Antarctica is the fifth-largest continent on Earth. Because
it sits over the South Pole (FIGURE 10.9), it is character-
ized by very low temperatures and high winds. Rapid

0°
15°W 15°E

30°W South Atlantic Ocean 30°E

45°W 45°E
South Orkney Islands Sanae (South Africa)
Dakshin Gangotri (India)
Georg von Neumayer
(Germany) Syowa (Japan)
60°W Elephant Island Molodezhnaya 60°E
Bellingshausen (Russia) en Maud L
Que and (Russia)
Halley (U.K.) y
e rb
Weddell Sea d d
Palmer (U.S.) Belgrano II (Argentina) En an Mawson (Australia)
L
75°W Rothera (U.K.) Filchner Ice Shelf 75°E
Prince Charles
Alexander Island Berkner Island Mountains Amery Ice Shelf
Davis (Australia)
Tr a n s a

Ellsworth Land Indian Ocean

Bellingshausen Sea South Pole
90°W 90°E
Ronne Ice Shelf n Amundsen-Scott (U.S.) Mirnyy (Russia)
ta
Ma

rc
ti
c Vostok (Russia)
ri

M Shackleton Ice Shelf

e

Amundsen Sea Ross Ice Shelf

B

ou

rd
y

105°W Casey (Australia) 105°E

nd
ntain

La
La

nd
es
ilk
W
s

Scott (New Zealand) McMurdo (U.S.)

South Pacific Ocean
120°W Ross Sea 120°E

Dumont d'Urville (France)

Leningradskaya (Russia)

135°W 135°E

150°W 150°E

165°W 165°E
180°

FIGURE 10.9  Selected physiographic features of Antarctica.