El Nino

(It takes me real hard to actually get back on blogging, phewh! Talk about the non-stopping procrastination *sigh*) 

Assalamualaikum :)

The reason I feel like talking about this phenomenon is definitely because of the scorching heat which has been around for the past few days. Serius, panasnya tak menahan (and someone would say, "Ini baru panas dunia, panas akhirat lagilah tak tertanggung").

Urm yeah I agreed, but that's not what I'm highlighting here bc that would be a different story.

I believe, most of us worry about some of our daily activities that needed to be stop disebabkan cuaca panas berbahang melampau ni. Tambahan bila the authorities announced that bekalan air mungkin bakal dicatu lagi, and that this El Nino would probably lasts up to 6 months, then there goes our worst nightmare. 

(I had no definite reason for highlighting the possible issues following the phenomenon, but well, perhaps we can pay more attention about it?)

What is El Nino

El Nino is basically a band of warm ocean water temperatures (pemanasan suhu permukaan laut) that periodically develops off the Pacific coast of South America, which occurs every 2 to 4 years for the continual duration of 6 months.

As a result, climate change occurs globally and there'd be heavy downpour in certain places while some others would be having long drought. 

*Klik jika anda rabun untuk tumbesaran penuh*

According to Wikipedia

Kebiasaannya, lautan Pasifik sentiasa ditiupi angin timur iaitu hembusan angin timur ke barat yang meniup air laut hangat jauh dari lautan bahagian timur - sebelah Peru dan Chile - menuju ke barat lautan Pasifik, mengarah pantai Australia dan kepulauan Filipina.

Permukaan air ini diganti dengan air sejuk yang terjadi dari arus Antartic Humbolt Current yang sentiasa datang dari pantai benua Amerika Selatan. Ini menyebabkan suhu permukaan laut di bahagian tengah dan timur lautan Pasifik menjadi lebih sejuk dari bahagian barat. Bagaimanapun, dalam tahun-tahun terjadinya El Nino, angin timuran berkurangan.

Oleh itu, air hangat yang sepatutnya menuju ke arah barat sebaliknya berputar balik merintangi lautan Pasifik. Ini mengakibatkan memperlahankan kejadian Arus Humbolt yang sejuk, menyebabkan timur Pasifik, yang sepatutnya menjadi sejuk, menjadi hangat sebaliknya. Semasa air laut hangat memanaskan udara di atasnya, ia menaikkan daya pengapungan lapisan bawah atmosfera, yang mana menyebabkan pengolakan awan dan hujan lebat.

Berbeza dengan El Nino, La Nina merujuk kepada keadaan suhu yang lebih sejuk dari biasa merentangi Pasifik Tengah dan Timur - lebih sejuk dari keadaan biasa apabila Arus Humbolt membawa air sejuk ke kawasan Pasifik ini. Semasa La Nina, angin timuran bertambah kuat dan kejadian putaran sejuk sepanjang pantai barat benua Amerika Selatan meningkat.

Sepanjang waktu ini, suhu air laut sepanjang Khatulistiwa boleh jatuh sebanyak 14 darjah Celsius. Semasa tahun-tahun La Nina, monsun meningkat di Asia Tenggara dan Australia - berlawanan dengan tahun-tahun El Nino. Sistem putaran keadaan panas (El Nino), biasa dan sejuk (La Nina) berlaku setiap tiga hingga empat tahun.

Now that sounds very technical-ish.

Actions To Be Taken

Indeed, it is EXTREMELY CRUCIAL for us to take actions on some precautions because basically the phenomenon will potentially affecting our daily activities and especially our health.

Among the actions to be taken are to

• Ensure there is enough water stored for daily activities (i.e, plant watering, bathing, laundry, dishwashing, drinking etc)
• Save water and use them wisely. Consider the long term effect if you refuse to do so.
• Keep yourself hydrated. Drink more water. This would help yourself staying healthy and active during the whole period.
• Spend less time outdoor, if possible. 
• Pastikan tak ada air yang bertakung dan simpan bekalan air dalam bekas yang tertutup to prevent mosquitoes breeding
• And finally, NO OPEN BURNING, please.

Just so you know, the highest temperature reading recorded in Malaysia during the last El Nino (which was years back in 1998 *gulp*) was 40.1 degree Celcius, at Stesen Metereologi Chuping, Perlis. Erm.

The last time I've encountered such high heat was few months ago (kalau tak salah awal tahun dulu, masa tengah hot isu krisis air Selangor LOL), and the highest temperature at that time was 38-39 degree Celcius at IIUM and the first thing that we did is staying outdoor less frequently (and there goes series of alasan for not going to class)

(LOL, I'm kidding. I can never skip my class lulz. But still, don't (ever) try this at home, kids.)

But so far, Alhamdulillah I didn't caught up with fever during that period, thanks to the practice of drinking up to 5L plain water every day! (Thanks, Herbalife muahahaha) - The key here is to stay hydrated :)

To be honest, I am quite frustrated for the fact that I couldn't spend my evening jogging at the lake nearby like I did almost everyday. (Tried to go though, but can't even make it halfway because the heat literally killed me. Yes, I'm exaggerating again. Not to mention going through sleepless nights because of the scalding hot weather. Yes, I'm exaggerating even more now.)

Once upon a time *acah acah tak boleh turun jogging poreber*

But whatever it is, remember to take care of your health and Insya Allah we all can get through this! :D

Should you have any inquiries you may contact the MetMalaysia Hotline at 1300-22-1MET or surfs up at www.mosti.gov.my or www.met.gov.my

Till then, xx