Year 10 Science · Unit 4 · Lesson 1
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Learning Goals
Compare two
Complete the table to compare El Niño and La Niña. Fill in all blank cells.
| Feature | El Niño | La Niña |
|---|---|---|
| Pacific Ocean surface water temperature (central/eastern Pacific) | ||
| Effect on eastern Australia's rainfall | ||
| Risk for Queensland and NSW | ||
| Agricultural impact (farming) |
Real-world context
A farmer in the Darling Downs (QLD), one of Australia's most productive grain-growing regions, wants to decide whether to plant a wheat crop in April. The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has issued a seasonal outlook predicting La Niña conditions for the coming winter. Wheat requires moderate rainfall during its growing season (April–September) but is damaged by flooding.
(a) What climate pattern should the farmer expect during La Niña conditions? Use specific details about rainfall and the western Pacific.
(b) What specific weather data would the farmer want to monitor during April–September (not just the seasonal forecast)? Name at least two types of weather data.
(c) Explain the difference between the BOM's La Niña climate prediction and a daily weather forecast. Why is this difference important for the farmer's planning?
Wrap Up
In one sentence, what was the main idea of this lesson?