Does El Nino have an effect on astronomical viewing?

[Stonius (Markus)]

Just thinking it might affect things like moisture in the upper atmosphere, or maybe number of clear nights, atmospheric stability, things like that.


Does anyone know if it affects the outlook? Can this be used to predict a better than average season?


Cheers


Markus

[JA]

Originally Posted by Stonius

Just thinking it might affect things like moisture in the upper atmosphere, or maybe number of clear nights, atmospheric stability, things like that.


Does anyone know if it affects the outlook? Can this be used to predict a better than average season?


Cheers


Markus

Yes the El Nino /La Nina Cycle will absolutely affect astronomical viewing, since amongst other things and put simply in Australia, temperatures tend to be higher and rainfall lower in the El Nino phase of the ENSO whilst cloud cover, rainfall and humidity tend to be higher and temperature lower in the the La Nina phase.

Best
JA

[Stonius (Markus)]

So would you say that El Nino gives more cloudless nights, but La Nina gives less transparency?


Do either lead to more stable conditions for seeing?


Cheers


Markus