← 11 September 2026's Current Affairs · Science & Tech GA Prelims ★★★★☆ Mains ★★☆☆☆
Satellite data show a sharp drop in Pacific marine productivity as El Nino warms the ocean
Why in News?
Satellite data show a sharp drop in Pacific marine productivity as El Nino warms the ocean
Satellite data show marine productivity in the Pacific has dropped sharply as an El Nino event warms surface waters and weakens nutrient-rich upwelling.
Why it matters: factual, Prelims-type
What you need to know
2 min read
Satellite observations have detected a sharp decline in marine productivity in the Pacific Ocean as an El Nino event warms surface waters and suppresses the upwelling of nutrient-rich cold water.
El Nino is a periodic warming of sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific that disrupts normal ocean circulation and marine food chains.
Reduced marine productivity during El Nino years can affect fish stocks and coastal economies dependent on fisheries across the Pacific rim.
Sources: Topper IAS editorial (PIB / The Hindu / Indian Express)
Key facts
Remember these
- El Nino
- marine productivity
- Pacific Ocean
- satellite oceanography
Prelims · Mains
How the exam will ask it
Prelims
- El Nino, marine productivity, Pacific Ocean, satellite oceanography
Mains
Use as an example in GA answers (GS1/GS3 - Geography/Environment: El Nino, ocean circulation, satellite applications).
Quick recall
Answer before you reveal
A sharp drop in marine productivity in the Pacific Ocean, driven by suppressed nutrient-rich upwelling, has recently been linked to which recurring climatic phenomenon?
- La Nina
- Indian Ocean Dipole
- El Nino
- Madden-Julian Oscillation
Show answer
Answer: C — El Nino is a periodic warming of sea-surface temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific that suppresses nutrient-rich upwelling, reducing marine productivity; satellite data recently recorded a sharp drop in Pacific marine productivity during an ongoing El Nino event.
Convert this topic into marks
Today's 10-MCQ test · instant analysis · Powered by AdaptIQ