Chivela Pass
Encyclopedia
The Chivela Pass is a narrow mountain pass
in the Sierra Madre Mountains that funnels cooler drier air from the North American continent, through southern Mexico
, into the Pacific. These northeasterly winds, specifically the Tehuano wind
, which periodically blows across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec
in southern Mexico, have important climatic effects, influencing the formation of hurricanes and typhoons, as well as contributing to worldwide climatological
events, such as El Nino
.
In extreme circumstances during the winter, truly cold, dense, air occasionally flows from the Bay of Campeche
in the Gulf of Mexico
through the Chivela Pass in the Sierra Madres, into the Gulf of Tehuantepec
on the Pacific side. These winds can be strong enough to sandblast paint off ships at sea.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
in the Sierra Madre Mountains that funnels cooler drier air from the North American continent, through southern Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, into the Pacific. These northeasterly winds, specifically the Tehuano wind
Tehuano wind
The Tehuano wind is a north to northeasterly wind which periodically blows across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in southern Mexico. The wind is stronger than the trade winds which normally blow here. It is notable for causing a pronounced increase in upwelling of cooler, nutrient-rich waters in the...
, which periodically blows across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec
Isthmus of Tehuantepec
The Isthmus of Tehuantepec is an isthmus in Mexico. It represents the shortest distance between the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, and prior to the opening of the Panama Canal was a major shipping route known simply as the Tehuantepec Route...
in southern Mexico, have important climatic effects, influencing the formation of hurricanes and typhoons, as well as contributing to worldwide climatological
Climatology
Climatology is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time, and is a branch of the atmospheric sciences...
events, such as El Nino
El Niño-Southern Oscillation
El Niño/La Niña-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO, is a quasiperiodic climate pattern that occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean roughly every five years...
.
In extreme circumstances during the winter, truly cold, dense, air occasionally flows from the Bay of Campeche
Bay of Campeche
The Bay of Campeche is the southern bight of the Gulf of Mexico. It is surrounded on three sides by the Mexican states of Campeche, Tabasco and Veracruz. It was named by Francisco Hernández de Córdoba and Antonio de Alaminos during their expedition in 1517...
in the Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
through the Chivela Pass in the Sierra Madres, into the Gulf of Tehuantepec
Gulf of Tehuantepec
Gulf of Tehuantepec is a large body of water on the Pacific coast of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, southeastern Mexico, at . Most of the hurricanes that form in the Eastern Pacific organize in or near this body of water...
on the Pacific side. These winds can be strong enough to sandblast paint off ships at sea.