in the year up to may 2016, the enso was in the el nino, or warm, phase.cific often leads to stronger vertical wind shear in the atlantic. wind shear refers to the changing wind speed, and/or direction, with height in the atmosphere. stronger wind shear leads to weaker hurricanes and makes landfall less likely. however, since may, the pacific has been cooling, becoming more neutral, and is now entering a weak phase la nina, or cool, phase, reducing the wind shear and hence promoting stronger and more frequent hurricanes. another major factor in the summer was a big blocking area of high pressure, feeding warm and moist air over the western atlantic and warming the waters there by as much as four or five degrees, compared to the average. these warmer waters have provided the fuel to power the huge, formidable hurricanes that have formed in the region this year. so the very active hurricane season of 2016 has now come an end. join me later in the programme, where we will take a more detailed look at some of these migratory birds and just how the weather affe