Classroom poster: colour the three ENSO phases

This page is made for printing and colouring in class or at home.

The three phases. ENSO, short for El Niño–Southern Oscillation, has three phases, IMD explains:

• El Niño: the central and eastern tropical Pacific is unusually warm. Trade winds are weaker than usual, and rain shifts away from Indonesia out over the central and eastern Pacific (NOAA).
• La Niña: the same region is unusually cool. Trade winds are stronger, and there is more rain over Indonesia (NOAA).
• Neutral: ocean temperatures are close to their long-term average.

Colouring tips. Colour warm water red or orange and cool water blue. In the El Niño panel, colour the open ocean warm. In the La Niña panel, keep the ocean on the right cool and blue.

How often? ENSO events usually develop every 2 to 7 years and often peak between November and February. El Niño usually lasts 9 to 18 months; La Niña can last two or three years (IMD).

Why it matters for India. El Niño generally weakens the Indian summer monsoon, while La Niña generally strengthens it. But other factors matter too, so not every El Niño brings drought.

Share your coloured page in the Kids Learn: El Niño room.

Join the El Niño help room on soshyal.com to ask questions and share what you see in your area.