La Niña is an ocean-atmosphere phenomenon characterized by unusually cold ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific, compared to El Niño, which is characterized by unusually warm ocean temperatures in the Equatorial Pacific.
The name La Niña originates from Spanish, meaning “the girl,” similar to El Niño which means “the boy.”
During a period of La Niña, the sea surface temperature across the equatorial Eastern Central Pacific Ocean will be lower than normal by 3 to 5°C.
A La Niña event often, though not always, follows an El Niño.
With the onset of La Niña, heavier and more frequent rains are expected, with a possibility of flooding and landslides as well.
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