Which mechanism reduces primary productivity in the eastern Pacific Ocean during an El Niño event?

💡 Explanation

During El Niño, weakened trade winds cause a reduction in the intensity of equatorial upwelling because surface warm layer thickens, suppressing upward nutrient transport, ultimately impacting primary productivity. Therefore, weakened equatorial upwelling results, rather than just increased thermocline depth etc, as upwelling mechanically dictates nutrient availabilty.

• Which mechanism initiates alluvial fan formation when a mountain stream reaches a broad valley?
• Which mechanism causes the highest stream discharge rates in mountainous regions dominated by glacial ice?
• Which outcome occurs when a cooled lava flow's surface prevents gas escape?
• Which mechanism explains why major global deserts often appear ~30° latitude from the equator?
• Which ecosystem collapse mechanism occurs in coastal South America during a strong El Niño event?
• Which hazard increases for loose sediments during intense seismic shaking from an earthquake?