「小男孩」與「小女孩」
Taking their names from the Spanish language, El Niño and La Niña are climate patterns that occur in the Pacific Ocean.
聖嬰和反聖嬰現象的名稱來自西班牙文，兩者皆是發生在太平洋的氣候模式。
take one’s name from 以……而命名occur=happen (v.)發生
Both have combined with climate change to impact global flooding, droughts and wildfires, all of which can have adverse effects on people and economies.
兩者跟氣候變遷一起對全球洪水、乾旱和森林大火造成影響，這些災害對人和經濟都有負面的影響。
flooding(n.)洪水；drought (n.)乾旱；wildfire (n.)野火,森林大火adverse (adj.)不利的,有害的
Normal trade winds in the Pacific Ocean blow west, taking warm water from South America towards Asia along the equator.
太平洋平常的信風向西吹，將暖水從南美沿著赤道帶到亞洲。
equator (n.)赤道
Cold water then rises up from the ocean to replace the warm water.
冷水因此從海底上升取代暖水。
replace (v.)取代；replace A with B表示用B來代替A
El Niño and La Niña are two opposing patterns that break this cycle.
聖嬰和反聖嬰現象是兩個打破這個循環的相反的模式。
opposing (adj.)相反的,對立的
Each one usually lasts around a year and can typically occur once every two to seven years. However, there is no set schedule.
它們通常各自持續約一年，且通常每二至七年發生一次。然而，並沒有固定的週期。
typically (adv.)一般地,通常地set (adj.)不變的,固定的
El Niño, meaning “the boy,” happens when weakened trade winds push warm water east toward the Americas.
「El Niño」的意思是「小男孩」，發生於較弱的信風將暖水往東推向美洲。
weaken (v.)減弱,削弱
The most common global effects of El Niño include drier weather in some locations and increased rainfall in parts of the Americas and Africa.
最常見的全球聖嬰現象包含某些地區較乾燥的天氣，以及美洲和非洲部分地區降雨量增加。
effect (n.)影響；affect (v.)影響
La Niña, meaning “the girl,” is a “cold event.” It is when trade winds are stronger than normal and more cold water rises to the surface of the ocean.
「La Niña」的意思是「小女孩」，這是一個寒冷的現象。它是因為信風比往常還要強烈，而有更多冷水上升至海洋表面。
comparative adj. + than normal 比一般還要更……surface (n.)表面,表層scratch the surface 只接觸到問題表面
The effects of La Niña can differ seasonally.
反聖嬰現象的影響因季節而有所不同。
seasonally (adv.)季節性地
Generally, though, the most extreme effects can be heavier rains in parts of Asia and stronger hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean.
一般來說，最極端的影響出現在亞洲部分地區可能有較強烈的降雨，以及大西洋可能有較強大的颶風。
extreme (adj.) 極端的；extreme weather 極端天氣；extreme poverty極端貧窮,赤貧；extreme sports 極限運動hurricane (n.)颶風=typhoon(台灣,東北亞,東南亞), cyclone (印度洋)