Which mechanism causes increased precipitation in the southwestern United States during an El Niño event?

💡 Explanation

During El Niño, a shift in the atmospheric pressure gradient occurs because the Walker Circulation weakens, causing rising air and increased storm activity in the southwestern US leading to enhanced precipitation. Therefore, a shift in atmospheric pressure gradients causes increased precipitation, rather than thermocline deepening, trade wind intensification, or increased upwelling, which have opposite effects.

• Which outcome exacerbates coastal flooding during an El Niño event due to altered atmospheric circulation?
• Which climatic outcome occurs when intertropical convergence zone weakens?
• Which mechanism triggers a tsunami when a subsea thrust fault ruptures during a megathrust earthquake?
• Which outcome results when subsidence occurs unevenly beneath a levee during a prolonged drought?
• Which mechanism causes increased rockfall within cirques undergoing thaw?
• Which process causes rapid uplift on the footwall side adjacent to normal fault during extension?