Understanding the Drought Impact of El Niño/La Niña in the Grain Production Areas in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

El Nino is a local warming of surface waters that takes place in the entire equatorial zone of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean of the Peruvian coast and which affects the atmospheric circulation worldwide. La Nina refers to the cold equivalent of El Nino. El Nino and La Nina are opposite phases of a natural climate pattern across the tropical Pacific Ocean that swings back and forth every 3 to 7 years on average. El Nino and La Nina can make extreme weather events more likely in certain regions. Predicting the life cycle and strength of El Nino and La Nina is critical for helping people plan for, avoid, or mitigate potential damages in every sector of society, including agriculture, fisheries, energy, water, transportation, and healthcare.