Several of the sites listed below, like the large NOAA PMEL site, have information on many different aspects of El Niño. Once in one of these sites, you'll probably want to spend some time browsing around. Be warned, however, that some sites have areas for both the layperson and the scientist. If you suddenly find yourself on a page that seems very complex, just hit the back button on your browser.
Exploring the Internet is a voyage of exploration, and you'll probably find a lot of extra links that are not mentioned here. Happy hunting!
USA Today is known for its excellent weather coverage, and this site gives some excellent information on meteorology. Well worth a visit.
WW2010 (the weather world 2010 project)
The University of Illinois has a comprehensive weather site that gives tutorial-like information on a variety of weather topics, from hurricanes to weather fronts. If you want to increase your knowledge on the mechanics of weather, visit this site.
Scripps Experimental Climate Prediction Center
Scripps Experimental Climate Prediction Center has its own web site maintained by Dave Pierce. This web page neatly explains what El Niño is in easy-to-read language.
The Environmental News Network has put together a great-looking report on El Niño. Well worth looking at.
This site has a nice list of what El Niño is and isn't, and a useful list of categorized links to a number of other El Niño sites.
Definitions of El Niño and related terms
Part of the NOAA PMEL site, this page gives succinct definitions of El Niño, La Niña and ENSO.
Smithsonian Ocean Planet: El Niño
This page gives an introduction to El Niño together with a map showing how El Niño affects different parts of the world.
The 'Reports to the Nation' web page is also available as a color brochure from the NOAA. It is well written (by Candace Gudmundson), and covers most aspects of El Niño.
Simple and graphic explanation of El Niño's causes spread across several web pages.
One of the best sites to head for if you want to find out about El Niño impacts.
Part of the COAPS (Center for Ocean-Atmosphere Prediction Studies) web site, this page gives extensive information on El Niño effects, including how El Niño impacts different parts of North America.
The NOAA's Climate Prediction Center puts out regularly updated bulletins on the effects of current El Niño activity. Check out the latest information on this page.
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory's web site
The Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory's web site is consistent winner of awards as the best NOAA site. The PMEL is the place which maintains and collects data from the buoys moored across the Pacific. This site has a host of data for both the layperson and the professional meteorologist.
The TOPEX/Poseidon satellite is the 'other' sensing method that scientists use to gain information about the state of the tropical Pacific, and this satellite can measure ocean height variations of as little as two inches. This web site give detailed information on the satellite system and the information gained from it.
CPC: Analysis and Monitoring Products
The Climate Prediction Center site from the NOAA has extensive climate predictions and bulletins related to El Niño.
IRI:International Research Institute
The Scripps International Research Institute for Climate Prediction is a hotbed of modelling and prediction related to El Niño. This site contains a lot of useful information on the work that they are doing in La Jolla.
Current El Nino-Related Climate Predictions and Forecasts
Part of the PMEL site, this forecast page gives links to many different forecast and predictions web pages, including Scripps, the NOAA's CDC, the Australian Bureau of Meteorology and many others.
Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA's website is very well constructed and looks very attractive. Here you will find everything to do with preparing for disasters (there is even a kids page on preparedness).
Go deeper into the FEMA site and you find a host of information on El Niño itself, including radio interviews about El Niño, information about an El Niño Summit, flood insurance an El Niño and much more.