EL NIÑO'S POWERFUL REACH   What is
El Niño?
Clues From
the Past
Long Distance
Connections
Winners &
Losers
El Niño
Lowdown

Left 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tree Rings Right

El Niños can leave their "signatures" in tree rings. Thick rings in trees from the American Southwest can indicate an El Niño. El Niños often bring exceptionally wet weather to that dry region. These rings are from a Douglas fir tree that lived in New Mexico 500 years ago. Thicker tree rings can indicate an El Niño from the past
Thicker tree rings can indicate an El Niño from the past.