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La Niña, sometimes stylized as "lenina" or "leninia," refers to a climate pattern characterized by unusually strong trade winds in the Pacific Ocean. Typically, these trade winds push warm surface waters toward Asia, maintaining a certain balance in ocean temperatures. However, during La Niña years, these trade winds intensify significantly, pushing even more warm water away from the coast of Asia and promoting upwelling of cooler water from beneath.
This cooling effect on the Pacific Ocean’s surface has far-reaching consequences, influencing jet stream patterns and weather systems across continents. Essentially, La Niña acts as a domino, setting off a chain reaction that alters typical weather behavior across North America.