Which consequence results when thermocline depth increases anomalously during an El Niño event?

💡 Explanation

When the thermocline depth abnormally increases during El Niño, upwelling weakens because the colder, nutrient-rich water is further from the surface, inhibiting upward movement. Therefore nutrient upwelling is reduced, rather than increased trade winds, reduced rainfall, or increased CO2 absorption, which require different pressure or temperature gradients.

• Which process limits the height of stratovolcanoes formed at subduction zones?
• Which process contributes to the formation of thermohaline stratification in deep lakes during winter?
• Which geological outcome results when mantle plume weakening occurs under Iceland?
• Which process drives the sinking of surface water in high latitude regions initiating deep ocean circulation?
• Which outcome develops when rainfall accelerates the weathering of carbonate bedrock?
• Which risk dramatically increases when groundwater recharge rates decline within karst regions overlying soluble carbonate rocks?