The 1997 El Niño observed by TOPEX/Poseidon. The white areas off the tropical coasts of South and North America indicate the pool of warm water^[1]

Southern Oscillation Index timeseries 1876-2011.

NOAA graph of Global Annual Temperature Anomalies 1950–2011, showing ENSO

El Niño/La Niña-Southern Oscillation, or ENSO, is a quasiperiodic climate pattern that occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean roughly every five years. The Southern Oscillation refers to variations in the temperature of the surface of the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean (warming and cooling known as El Niño and La Niña respectively) and in air surface pressure in the tropical western Pacific. The two variations are coupled: the warm oceanic phase, El Niño, accompanies high air surface pressure in the western Pacific, while the cold phase, La Niña, accompanies low air surface pressure in the western Pacific.^[2][3] Mechanisms that cause the oscillation remain under study.

The extremes of this climate pattern's oscillations, El Niño and La Niña, cause extreme weather (such as floods and droughts) in many regions of the world. Developing countries dependent upon agriculture and fishing, particularly those bordering the Pacific Ocean, are the most affected. In popular usage, the El Niño-Southern Oscillation is often called just "El Niño". El Niño is Spanish for "the little boy" and refers to the Christ child, because periodic warming in the Pacific near South America is usually noticed around Christmas.^[4]

Definition[link]

El Niño is defined by prolonged differences in Pacific Ocean surface temperatures when compared with the average value. The accepted definition is a warming or cooling of at least 0.5 °C (0.9 °F) averaged over the east-central tropical Pacific Ocean. Typically, this anomaly happens at irregular intervals of 3–7 years and lasts nine months to two years.^[5] The average period length is 5 years. When this warming or cooling occurs for only seven to nine months, it is classified as El Niño/La Niña "conditions"; when it occurs for more than that period, it is classified as El Niño/La Niña "episodes".^[6]

The first signs of an El Niño are:

1. Rise in surface pressure over the Indian Ocean, Indonesia, and Australia
2. Fall in air pressure over Tahiti and the rest of the central and eastern Pacific Ocean
3. Trade winds in the south Pacific weaken or head east
4. Warm air rises near Peru, causing rain in the northern Peruvian deserts
5. Warm water spreads from the west Pacific and the Indian Ocean to the east Pacific. It takes the rain with it, causing extensive drought in the western Pacific and rainfall in the normally dry eastern Pacific.

El Niño's warm rush of nutrient-poor tropical water, heated by its eastward passage in the Equatorial Current, replaces the cold, nutrient-rich surface water of the Humboldt Current. When El Niño conditions last for many months, extensive ocean warming and the reduction in Easterly Trade winds limits upwelling of cold nutrient-rich deep water and its economic impact to local fishing for an international market can be serious.^[7]

Early stages and characteristics of El Niño[link]

5-day running mean of MJO. Note how it moves eastward with time.

Although its causes are still being investigated, El Niño events begin when trade winds, part of the Walker circulation, falter for many months. A series of Kelvin waves—relatively warm subsurface waves of water a few centimetres high and hundreds of kilometres wide—cross the Pacific along the equator and create a pool of warm water near South America, where ocean temperatures are normally cold due to upwelling. The weakening of the winds can also create twin cyclones, another sign of a future El Niño.^[8] The Pacific Ocean is a heat reservoir that drives global wind patterns, and the resulting change in its temperature alters weather on a global scale.^[9] Rainfall shifts from the western Pacific toward the Americas, while Indonesia and India become drier.^[10]

Jacob Bjerknes in 1969 contributed to an understanding of ENSO by suggesting that an anomalously warm spot in the eastern Pacific can weaken the east-west temperature difference, disrupting trade winds that push warm water to the west. The result is increasingly warm water toward the east.^[11] Several mechanisms have been proposed through which warmth builds up in equatorial Pacific surface waters, and is then dispersed to lower depths by an El Niño event.^[12] The resulting cooler area then has to "recharge" warmth for several years before another event can take place.^[13]

While not a direct cause of El Niño, the Madden-Julian Oscillation, or MJO, propagates rainfall anomalies eastward around the global tropics in a cycle of 30–60 days, and may influence the speed of development and intensity of El Niño and La Niña in several ways.^[14] For example, westerly flows between MJO-induced areas of low pressure may cause cyclonic circulations north and south of the equator. When the circulations intensify, the westerly winds within the equatorial Pacific can further increase and shift eastward, playing a role in El Niño development.^[15] Madden-Julian activity can also produce eastward-propagating oceanic Kelvin waves, which may in turn be influenced by a developing El Niño, leading to a positive feedback loop.^[16]

Southern Oscillation[link]

Normal Pacific pattern. Equatorial winds gather warm water pool toward west. Cold water upwells along South American coast. (NOAA / PMEL / TAO)

The Southern Oscillation is the atmospheric component of El Niño. This component is an oscillation in surface air pressure between the tropical eastern and the western Pacific Ocean waters. The strength of the Southern Oscillation is measured by the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI). The SOI is computed from fluctuations in the surface air pressure difference between Tahiti and Darwin, Australia.^[17] El Niño episodes are associated with negative values of the SOI, meaning that the pressure difference between Tahiti and Darwin is relatively small.

Low atmospheric pressure tends to occur over warm water and high pressure occurs over cold water, in part because of deep convection over the warm water. El Niño episodes are defined as sustained warming of the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. This results in a decrease in the strength of the Pacific trade winds, and a reduction in rainfall over eastern and northern Australia.

Walker circulation[link]

El Niño Conditions. Warm water pool approaches South American coast. Absence of cold upwelling increases warming.

La Niña Conditions. Warm water is farther west than usual.

During non-El Niño conditions, the Walker circulation is seen at the surface as easterly trade winds that move water and air warmed by the sun toward the west. This also creates ocean upwelling off the coasts of Peru and Ecuador and brings nutrient-rich cold water to the surface, increasing fishing stocks. The western side of the equatorial Pacific is characterized by warm, wet low pressure weather as the collected moisture is dumped in the form of typhoons and thunderstorms. The ocean is some 60 centimetres (24 in) higher in the western Pacific as the result of this motion.^{[18][19][20][21]}

Effects of ENSO's warm phase (El Niño)[link]

North America[link]

Regional impacts of warm ENSO episodes (El Niño).

Winters, during the El Niño effect, are warmer and drier than average in the Northwest, Northmidwest, and Northmideast United States, and therefore those regions experience reduced snowfalls. Meanwhile, significantly wetter winters are present in northwest Mexico and the southwest United States including central and southern California, while both cooler and wetter than average winters in northeast Mexico and the southeast United States (including the Tidewater region of Virginia) occur during the El Niño phase of the oscillation.^[22][23]

Some believed that the ice-storm in January 1998, which devastated parts of Southern Ontario and Southern Quebec, was caused or accentuated by El Niño's warming effects.^[24] El Niño warmed Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics, such that the area experienced a subtropical-like winter during the games.^[25]

El Niño is credited with suppressing hurricanes and made the 2009 hurricane season the least active in twelve years.^[26]

Tropical cyclones[link]

Most tropical cyclones form on the side of the subtropical ridge closer to the equator, then move poleward past the ridge axis before recurving into the main belt of the Westerlies.^[27] When the subtropical ridge position shifts due to El Niño, so will the preferred tropical cyclone tracks. Areas west of Japan and Korea tend to experience much fewer September–November tropical cyclone impacts during El Niño and neutral years. During El Niño years, the break in the subtropical ridge tends to lie near 130°E, which would favor the Japanese archipelago.^[28] During El Niño years, Guam's chance of a tropical cyclone impact is one-third of the long term average.^[29] The tropical Atlantic ocean experiences depressed activity due to increased vertical wind shear across the region during El Niño years.^[30]

Elsewhere[link]

In Africa, East Africa - including Kenya, Tanzania, and the White Nile basin - experiences, in the long rains from March to May, wetter-than-normal conditions. There are also drier than normal conditions from December to February in south-central Africa, mainly in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Botswana. Direct effects of El Niño resulting in drier conditions occur in parts of Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, increasing bush fires, worsening haze, and decreasing air quality dramatically. Drier-than-normal conditions are also in general observed in Queensland, inland Victoria, inland New South Wales, and eastern Tasmania from June to August.

Many ENSO linkages exist in the high southern latitudes around Antarctica.^[31] Specifically, El Niño conditions result in high pressure anomalies over the Amundsen and Bellingshausen seas, causing reduced sea ice and increased poleward heat fluxes in these sectors as well as the Ross Sea. The Weddell Sea, conversely, tends to become colder with more sea ice during El Niño. The exact opposite heating and atmospheric pressure anomalies occur during La Niña. ^[32] This pattern of variability is known as the Antarctic Dipole mode, although the Antarctic response to ENSO forcing is not ubiquitous. ^[32]

El Niño's effects on Europe are not entirely clear, but it is not nearly as affected as at least large parts of other continents. There is some evidence that an El Niño may cause a wetter, cloudier winter in Northern Europe and a milder, drier winter in the Mediterranean Sea region. The El Niño winter of 2006/2007 was unusually mild in Europe, and the Alps recorded very little snow coverage that season.^[33]

In most recent times, Singapore experienced the driest February in 2010 since records begins in 1869. With only 6.3 millimetres of rain fell in the month and temperatures hitting as high as 35 degrees Celsius on 26 February. The years 1968 and 2005 had the next driest Februaries, when 8.4 mm of rain fell.^[34]

Effects of ENSO's cool phase (La Niña)[link]

Sea surface skin temperature anomalies in November 2007 showing La Niña conditions

La Niña is the name for the cold phase of ENSO, during which the cold pool in the eastern Pacific intensifies and the trade winds strengthen. The name La Niña originates from Spanish, meaning "the girl", analogous to El Niño meaning "the boy". It has also in the past been called anti-El Niño, and El Viejo (meaning "the old man").^[35]

Africa[link]

La Niña results in wetter-than-normal conditions in Southern Africa from December to February, and drier-than-normal conditions over equatorial East Africa over the same period.^[36]

Asia[link]

During La Niña years, the formation of tropical cyclones, along with the subtropical ridge position, shifts westward across the western Pacific ocean, which increases the landfall threat to China.^[28] In March 2008, La Niña caused a drop in sea surface temperatures over Southeast Asia by an amount of 2 °C. It also caused heavy rains over Malaysia, Philippines, and Indonesia.^[37]

South America[link]

During a time of La Niña, drought plagues the coastal regions of Peru and Chile.^[38] From December to February, northern Brazil is wetter than normal.^[38]

North America[link]

Regional impacts of La Niña.

La Niña causes mostly the opposite effects of El Niño. La Niña causes above-average precipitation across the North Midwest, the Northern Rockies, Northern California, and the Pacific Northwest's southern and eastern regions. Meanwhile there is below-average precipitation in the southwestern and southeastern states.^[39]

La Niñas occurred in 1904, 1908, 1910, 1916, 1924, 1928, 1938, 1950, 1955, 1964, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1988, 1995, 1999, 2008 and 2011.^[40] In Canada, La Niña will in general cause a cooler, snowier winter, such as the near record-breaking amounts of snow recorded in the La Niña winter of 2007/2008 in Eastern Canada.^{[41] [42]} The 2010-2011 La Niña was one of the strongest ever observed. The effect on Eastern Australia was devastating.^[43]

Recent occurrences[link]

There was a strong La Niña episode during 1988–1989. La Niña also formed in 1995 and from 1998–2000, and a minor one from 2000–2001. In recent times, an occurrence of El Niño started in September 2006^[44] and lasted until early 2007.^[45] From June 2007 on, data indicated a moderate La Niña event, which strengthened in early 2008 and weakened by early 2009; the 2007–2008 La Niña event was the strongest since the 1988–1989 event. The strength of the La Niña made the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season one of the most active since 1944; there were 16 named storms of at least 39 mph (63 km/h), eight of which became 74 mph (119 km/h) or greater hurricanes.^[26]

According to NOAA, El Niño conditions were in place in the equatorial Pacific Ocean starting June 2009, peaking in January–February. Positive SST anomalies (El Niño) lasted until May 2010. SST anomalies then transitioned into the negative (La Niña), and are expected to transition back to ENSO-neutral during April 2012. ^[42]

Remote influence on tropical Atlantic Ocean[link]

A study of climate records has shown that El Niño events in the equatorial Pacific are generally associated with a warm tropical North Atlantic in the following spring and summer.^[46] About half of El Niño events persist sufficiently into the spring months for the Western Hemisphere Warm Pool (WHWP) to become unusually large in summer.^[47] Occasionally, El Niño's effect on the Atlantic Walker circulation over South America strengthens the easterly trade winds in the western equatorial Atlantic region. As a result, an unusual cooling may occur in the eastern equatorial Atlantic in spring and summer following El Niño peaks in winter.^[48] Cases of El Niño-type events in both oceans simultaneously have been linked to severe famines related to the extended failure of monsoon rains.^[49]

ENSO and global warming[link]

During the last several decades the number of El Niño events increased, and the number of La Niña events decreased.^[50] The question is whether this is a random fluctuation or a normal instance of variation for that phenomenon or the result of global climate changes toward global warming.

The studies of historical data show that the recent El Niño variation is most likely linked to global warming. For example, one of the most recent results is that, even after subtracting the positive influence of decadal variation, shown to be possibly present in the ENSO trend,^[51] the amplitude of the ENSO variability in the observed data still increases, by as much as 60% in the last 50 years.^[52]

It is not certain what exact changes will happen to ENSO in the future: Different models make different predictions.^[53] It may be that the observed phenomenon of more frequent and stronger El Niño events occurs only in the initial phase of the global warming, and then (e.g., after the lower layers of the ocean get warmer as well), El Niño will become weaker than it was.^[54] It may also be that the stabilizing and destabilizing forces influencing the phenomenon will eventually compensate for each other.^[55] More research is needed to provide a better answer to that question, but the current results do not completely exclude the possibility of dramatic changes. The ENSO is considered to be a potential tipping element in Earth's climate.^[56]

El Niño "Modoki" and Central-Pacific El Niño[link]

Map showing Nino3.4 and other index regions

Map of Atlantic major hurricanes during post-"Modoki" seasons, including 1987, 1992, 1995, 2003 and 2005.

The traditional Niño, also called Eastern Pacific (EP) El Niño,^[57] involves temperature anomalies in the Eastern Pacific. However, in the last two decades non-traditional El Niños were observed, in which the usual place of the temperature anomaly (Nino 1 and 2) is not affected, but an anomaly arises in the central Pacific (Nino 3.4).^[58] The phenomenon is called Central Pacific (CP) El Niño,^[57] "dateline" El Niño (because the anomaly arises near the dateline), or El Niño "Modoki" (Modoki is Japanese for "similar, but different").^[59]

The effects of the CP El Niño are different from those of the traditional EP El Niño — e.g., the new El Niño leads to more hurricanes more frequently making landfall in the Atlantic.^[60]

The recent discovery of El Niño Modoki has some scientists believing it to be linked to global warming.^[61] However, Satellite data goes back only to 1979. More research must be done to find the correlation and study past El Niño episodes.

The first recorded El Niño that originated in the central Pacific and moved toward the east was in 1986.^[62]

A joint study by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration concluded that climate change may contribute to stronger El Niños. El Niño "Modoki" events occurred in 1991-92, 1994–95, 2002–03, 2004–05, and 2009-10.^[63] The strongest such Central Pacific El Niño event known occurred in 2009-2010.^[64] There was also a Central Pacific El Niño in 2006-2007.^[65]

Health and social impacts of El Niño[link]

Extreme weather conditions related to the El Niño cycle correlate with changes in the incidence of epidemic diseases. For example, the El Niño cycle is associated with increased risks of some of the diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, such as malaria, dengue, and Rift Valley fever. Cycles of malaria in India, Venezuela, and Colombia have now been linked to El Niño. Outbreaks of another mosquito-transmitted disease, Australian encephalitis (Murray Valley encephalitis - MVE), occur in temperate south-east Australia after heavy rainfall and flooding, which are associated with La Niña events. A severe outbreak of Rift Valley fever occurred after extreme rainfall in north-eastern Kenya and southern Somalia during the 1997-98 El Niño.^[66]

ENSO may be linked to civil conflicts. Scientists at the Earth Institute of Columbia University have analyzed data from 1950 to 2004 and suggest that ENSO may have had a role in 21% of all civil conflicts since 1950, with the risk of annual civil conflict doubling from 3% to 6% in countries affected by ENSO during El Niño years relative to La Niña years.^[67][68]

Cultural history and pre-historic information[link]

Average equatorial Pacific temperatures

ENSO conditions have occurred at two- to seven year intervals for at least the past 300 years, but most of them have been weak. There is also evidence for strong El Niño events during the early Holocene epoch 10,000 years ago.^[69]

El Niño affected pre-Columbian Incas ^[70] and may have led to the demise of the Moche and other pre-Columbian Peruvian cultures.^[71] A recent study suggests that a strong El-Niño effect between 1789–93 caused poor crop yields in Europe, which in turn helped touch off the French Revolution.^[72] The extreme weather produced by El Niño in 1876–77 gave rise to the most deadly famines of the 19th century.^[73] The 1876 famine alone in northern China killed up to 13 million people.^[74]

An early recorded mention of the term "El Niño" to refer to climate occurs in 1892, when Captain Camilo Carrillo told the Geographical society congress in Lima that Peruvian sailors named the warm northerly current "El Niño" because it was most noticeable around Christmas. The phenomenon had long been of interest because of its effects on the guano industry and other enterprises that depend on biological productivity of the sea.

Charles Todd, in 1893, suggested that droughts in India and Australia tended to occur at the same time; Norman Lockyer noted the same in 1904. An El Niño connection with flooding was reported in 1895 by Pezet and Eguiguren. In 1924, Gilbert Walker (for whom the Walker circulation is named) coined the term "Southern Oscillation".

The major 1982–83 El Niño led to an upsurge of interest from the scientific community. The period from 1990–1994 was unusual in that El Niños have rarely occurred in such rapid succession.^[75] An especially intense El Niño event in 1998 caused an estimated 16% of the world's reef systems to die. The event temporarily warmed air temperature by 1.5 °C, compared to the usual increase of 0.25 °C associated with El Niño events.^[76] Since then, mass coral bleaching has become common worldwide, with all regions having suffered "severe bleaching".^[77]

Major ENSO events were recorded in the years 1790–93, 1828, 1876–78, 1891, 1925–26, 1972–73, 1982–83, and 1997–98, with 2009-2010 being one of the strongest ever.^{[49][verification needed]}

See also[link]

Global warming portal

• Benguela Niño
• Indian Ocean Dipole
• Pacific Decadal Oscillation
• Arctic oscillation
• North Atlantic Oscillation

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Caviedes, César N. (2001). El Niño in History: Storming Through the Ages. Gainesville: University of Florida Press. ISBN 0-8130-2099-9. 
• Fagan, Brian M. (1999). Floods, Famines, and Emperors: El Niño and the Fate of Civilizations. New York: Basic Books. ISBN 0-7126-6478-5. 
• Glantz, Michael H. (2001). Currents of change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-78672-X. 
• Philander, S. George (1990). El Niño, La Niña and the Southern Oscillation. San Diego: Academic Press. ISBN 0-12-553235-0. 
• Trenberth, Kevin E. (1997). "The definition of El Niño" (pdf). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Scociety 78 (12): 2771–7. Bibcode 1997BAMS...78.2771T. DOI:10.1175/1520-0477(1997)078<2771:TDOENO>2.0.CO;2. ISSN 1520-0477. http://ams.allenpress.com/perlserv/?request=res-loc&uri=urn%3Aap%3Apdf%3Adoi%3A10.1175%2F1520-0477%281997%29078%3C2771%3ATDOENO%3E2.0.CO%3B2. 

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: ENSO

• International Research Centre on El Niño-CIIFEN
• Latest ENSO updates & predictions from the International Research Institute for Climate and Society
• PO.DAAC's El Niño Animations
• National Academy of Sciences El Niño/La Niña article
• NOAA FAQ "What is ENSO?"
• Latest El Niño/La Niña Data from NASA
• Economic Costs of El Niño / La Niña and Economic Benefits from Improved Forecasting from "NOAA Socioeconomics" website initiative
• El-Niño-Southern Oscillation
• El Niño and La Niña from the 1999 International Red Cross World Disasters Report by Eric J. Lyman.
• ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation)
• La Niña episodes in the Tropical Pacific
• NOAA announces 2004 El Niño
• NOAA El Niño Page
• Ocean Motion: El Niño
• SOI (Southern Oscillation Index)
• The Climate of Peru
• What is El Niño?
• What is La Niña?
• El-Nino, La-Nina, Southern Oscillation, ENSO
• Kelvin Wave Renews El Niño - NASA, Earth Observatory image of the day, 2010, March 21
• Animation of ENSO in Victoria, Australia

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Christopher Crosby "Chris" Farley (February 15, 1964 – December 18, 1997) was an American comedian and actor. Farley was a member of Chicago's Second City Theatre^[1] and cast member of the hit NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live between 1990 and 1995. Farley and Chris Rock were introduced as two of the show's new cast members in early 1990.^[2][3] Like his idol, John Belushi, Farley died of a speedball overdose at the age of 33. On August 26, 2005, Farley was posthumously awarded the 2,289th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which is located in front of iO West.^[4]

Early life[link]

Farley was born in Madison, Wisconsin, the son of Mary Anne (née Crosby), a housewife, and Thomas "Tom" Farley, Sr., who owned an oil company.^[5][2] He had four siblings: Tom Jr., Kevin, John, and Barbara. His cousin, Jim, is a vice president at Ford Motor Company.^[6][7] Farley's family is traditionally Irish Catholic, and Farley and his siblings attended Catholic schools in his hometown, including Edgewood High School of the Sacred Heart. According to Joel Murray, a fellow Second City cast member, Chris would "always make it to Mass".^[8] Many of his summers were spent as a camper and counselor at Red Arrow Camp, near Minocqua, Wisconsin.

Farley graduated from Marquette University in 1986, with a concentration in communications and theater.^[9] After college, he worked with his father at the Scotch Oil Company in Madison.^[10] He got his start in professional comedy at the Ark Improv Theatre in Madison, and at the Improv Olympic theater in Chicago. He then performed at Chicago's Second City Theatre, initially as part of Second City's touring group. He was eventually promoted to their main stage. While working at Second City, Farley befriended his Saturday Night Live colleague Lorne Michaels.^[3]

Career[link]

[edit] Saturday Night Live

Along with Chris Rock, Farley was one of two new Saturday Night Live cast members announced in the spring of 1990.^[2][3] On SNL, Farley frequently collaborated with his fellow cast members Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Rob Schneider, and David Spade, among others. This group came to be known as the "Bad Boys of SNL".^[11] Popular characters performed by Farley included himself on The Chris Farley Show, a talk show in which Farley quite often "interviewed" the guest, got very nervous and asked simple-minded or irrelevant questions, such as what their favorite rock band was; Matt Foley, an over-the-top motivational speaker who constantly reminded other characters that he "lived in a van, down by the river";^[12] Todd O'Connor of Bill Swerski's Superfans, a group of stereotypical Chicagoans who constantly shouted "da Bears!";,^[13] a Chippendale's dancer, in a famous sketch that paired him with guest host Patrick Swayze;^[14] one of the "Gap Girls", who hung out together at a local mall; a stereotypical lunch lady, to the theme of Lunchlady Land performed by Adam Sandler;^[15] and Bennett Brauer, a Weekend Update commentator who often divulged his personal and hygienic problems via air quotes. Some of these characters were brought to SNL from his days at Second City. Farley also performed impersonations of Tom Arnold, who gave Farley's eulogy at his private funeral; Andrew Giuliani, Jerry Garcia, Meat Loaf, Norman Schwarzkopf, Dom DeLuise, Roger Ebert, Carnie Wilson, Newt Gingrich, Mindy Cohn, Mama Cass, Hank Williams, Jr., and Rush Limbaugh were among the celebrities and real-life figures he portrayed.^[16]

Off-screen, Farley was well known for his pranks in the offices of Saturday Night Live. This would refer to Sandler and Farley making late-night prank phone calls from the SNL offices in Rockefeller Center, with Sandler speaking in an old woman's voice and Farley farting into the phone and mooning cars from a limousine.^[17][18] Sandler told Conan O'Brien on The Tonight Show that NBC fired him and Farley from the show in 1995.^[19]

Film career[link]

During his tenure on SNL, Farley had roles in the comedy films Wayne's World, Coneheads, Airheads, and uncredited in Billy Madison. He also appeared in the Red Hot Chili Peppers music video for "Soul to Squeeze" which was a song featured on the Coneheads soundtrack.

After Farley and most of his fellow cast members were released from their contracts at Saturday Night Live following the 1994–1995 season, Farley began focusing on his film career. His first two major films co-starred his fellow SNL colleague and close friend David Spade. Together, the duo made the films Tommy Boy and Black Sheep. These were a success at the domestic box office, earning around $32 million each and gaining a large cult following on home video.^[20][21] They established Farley as a relatively bankable star and he was given the title role of Beverly Hills Ninja, which finished in first place at the box office on its opening weekend.^[22] However, drug and alcohol problems interfered throughout Farley's film work, and production of his final film, Almost Heroes, was held up several times so Farley could attend rehab.^[23] After his premature death on December 18, 1997, his final completed films, Almost Heroes and Dirty Work, were released posthumously.

Unfinished projects[link]

Farley was the original choice to record vocals for the title character of the DreamWorks animated film Shrek, but died before recording began and he was replaced by one of his SNL co-stars, Mike Myers.^[12] He was also planning a Matt Foley film with his colleague David Spade.^{[citation needed]} By the time of his death, Farley had also been in talks to co-star with Vince Vaughn in the film The Gelfin and also to star in a biopic film about Fatty Arbuckle.^[24] Grown Ups would have reunited Farley with SNL co-stars David Spade, Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, and Rob Schneider, but due to his death the film was shelved for over a decade and was recast with Kevin James.^{[citation needed]} He had also been in talks for the lead in an adaptation of the novel A Confederacy of Dunces.

Illness and death[link]

By early 1997, a visible decline in Farley's health was frequently noted in the press. Following his final guest appearance on SNL on October 25, 1997,^[25] his hoarse voice, continual perspiration and flushed skin were the subject of public scrutiny.^[26][27] In the final years of his life, Farley had sought treatment for obesity and drug abuse on seventeen separate occasions.^[28] On December 18, 1997, Farley was found dead by his younger brother John in his apartment in the John Hancock Center in Chicago.^[29] An autopsy later revealed that Farley had died of a drug overdose (morphine and cocaine) early that morning.^[30] Advanced atherosclerosis was cited as a "significant contributing factor".^[23] Farley's death is often compared to his SNL idol John Belushi, who also died at age 33 of an accidental drug overdose consisting of cocaine and heroin.^[14]

Funeral[link]

Farley's private funeral was held at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin five days later. Over five hundred people attended his funeral, many of the actors and comedians who had worked with him on Saturday Night Live and on film including Phil Hartman (who died five months later), Adam Sandler, Brendan Fraser, Joe Mantegna, Lorne Michaels, Dan Aykroyd, Steve Buscemi, Mike Myers, Christopher Walken, John Goodman, Eugene Levy, George Wendt, Norm Macdonald, Holly Wortell, Rob Schneider, Chris Rock, Tim Meadows, and Tom Arnold.^[31] Notably absent was Farley's former SNL castmate, frequent film co-star, and close friend David Spade, who was later quoted as saying that he declined to attend Farley's funeral because he "could not be in a room where Chris was in a box."^[16] However, Spade did appear on the special 25th anniversary episode of Saturday Night Live, holding back his tears, to call for a moment of remembrance for Farley. Farley was entombed at the Resurrection Catholic Cemetery.

Response and legacy[link]

On August 26, 2005, Farley was posthumously awarded the 2,289th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which is located in front of iO West.^[32] In his memoir Gasping for Airtime, Jay Mohr recalled a moment involving Farley and his SNL colleague Phil Hartman. In the show's cast's goodbye song-and-dance performance to Hartman, the final scene featured Farley and Hartman embracing each other as the latter sang "Goodbye" to the camera.^[33] This was seen on the "Best of Chris Farley" SNL special, but omitted from video versions of the special.^{[citation needed]} The authorized biography of Farley, The Chris Farley Show, was written by his brother Tom, Jr. and Tanner Colby.

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

Biography portal

Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: Chris Farley

• Chris Farley at the Internet Movie Database
• Maxim Rated Top SNL performer
• Review of Chris Farley biography
• Chris Farley at Find a Grave
• Chris Farley Foundation

Fernando Torres

Torres playing for Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League Final 2012
Personal information
Full name	Fernando José Torres Sanz[1]
Date of birth	(1984-03-20) 20 March 1984 (age 28)[2]
Place of birth	Fuenlabrada, Spain
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[3]
Playing position	Striker
Club information
Current club	Chelsea
Number	9
Youth career
1995–2001	Atlético Madrid
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2001–2007	Atlético Madrid	214	(82)
2007–2011	Liverpool	102	(65)
2011–	Chelsea	46	(7)
National team‡
2000	Spain U15	1	(0)
2001	Spain U16	9	(11)
2001	Spain U17	4	(1)
2002	Spain U18	1	(1)
2002	Spain U19	5	(6)
2002–2003	Spain U21	10	(3)
2003–	Spain	92	(28)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16:45, 13 May 2012 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 14:45, 31 May 2012 (UTC)

Fernando José Torres Sanz (Spanish pronunciation: [ferˈnando ˈtores]; born 20 March 1984), nicknamed El Niño (The Kid in Spanish),^[4] is a Spanish footballer who plays for Chelsea and the Spain national team as a striker.

Torres started his career with Atlético Madrid, progressing through their youth system to the first team squad. He made his first team debut in 2001 and finished his time at the club having scored 75 goals in 174 La Liga appearances. Prior to his La Liga debut, Torres played two seasons in the Segunda División for Atlético Madrid, making 40 appearances and scoring seven goals. He joined Premier League club Liverpool in 2007 after signing for a club record transfer fee. He marked his first season at Anfield by being Liverpool's first player since Robbie Fowler in the 1995–96 season to score more than 20 league goals in a season. Torres became the fastest player in Liverpool history to score 50 league goals after scoring against Aston Villa in December 2009. He left the club in January 2011 to join Chelsea for a record British transfer fee of £50 million, which also made him the most expensive Spanish player in history.

Torres is a Spanish international and made his debut for the country against Portugal in 2003. He has since participated in four major tournaments, UEFA Euro 2004, the 2006 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2008 and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Torres did not score at Euro 2004, but netted three at the 2006 World Cup. He scored twice at UEFA Euro 2008, including the winning goal for Spain in their 1–0 win over Germany in the Final. He won the 2010 World Cup with Spain, but did not score any goals during the tournament.

Early career[link]

Born in Fuenlabrada, Community of Madrid,^[5] Torres became interested in football as a child and joined his first team, Parque 84, at the age of five.^[2] His father José Torres worked during Torres' childhood, and his mother Flori Sanz traveled daily with him to training sessions.^[6] His grandfather was not a passionate football fan, but took pride in being an Atlético Madrid supporter, and Torres inherited his love for the club.^[2]

Torres started playing football as a goalkeeper, the position his brother played in.^[7] When he was seven years old, however, he started playing regularly as a striker in an indoor league for the neighborhood club, Mario's Holland,^[2] using the characters from the anime Captain Tsubasa as inspiration.^[8] Three years later, aged 10, he progressed to an 11-side team, Rayo 13.^[9] He scored 55 goals in a season and was one of three Rayo 13 players to earn a trial with Atlético.^[9] He impressed the scouts and joined the club's youth system at the age of 11 in 1995.^[9]

Club career[link]

Atlético Madrid[link]

Torres arguing with referee Ralf Frubel during a match with Atlético Madrid in July 2006^[10]

After progressing through the ranks, Torres won his first important youth title in 1998.^[9] Atlético sent an under-15 team to compete in the Nike Cup, in Spain and Europe, to play against youth teams from other clubs; Atlético won the tournament.^[9][11] He was later voted the best player in Europe for the age group.^[11] In 1999, at the age of 15, Torres signed his first professional contract with Atlético.^[9] He spent his first year playing in the youth team and moved onto the participating in the Honor Division when he was 16.^[12] The 2000–01 season had started badly, as Torres suffered from a cracked shinbone which kept him out until December.^[12] Torres trained with the first team to get prepared for pre-season, but eventually made his debut for the team on 27 May 2001, at Vicente Calderón, against CD Leganés.^[12] A week later, he scored his first goal for the club against Albacete Balompié and the season finished with Atlético narrowly missing out on promotion to La Liga.^[12]

Atlético were promoted to La Liga at the end of the 2001–02 season, although Torres did not perform well in the season, as he netted only six times in 36 appearances in the Segunda División.^[13] Torres' first season in La Liga, 2002–03, was better, however, as he scored 13 goals in 29 appearances, with Atlético finishing in 11th place.^[12][13] In the 2003–04 season, his second in La Liga, Torres made further strides, scoring 19 league goals in 35 appearances,^[13] meaning he finished as joint third highest scorer in the league.^[14] At the age of 19, Torres was named Atlético's captain.^[11] Atlético narrowly missed out on qualification for the UEFA Cup, but by finishing in seventh place in the 2003–04 season, they qualified for the 2004 UEFA Intertoto Cup, giving Torres a first taste of a competition at the European level.^[15] He scored two goals in the two fourth round matches against OFK Beograd, with one coming in each leg.^[15] Atlético reached the Final, but lost 3–1 on a penalty shoot-out to Villarreal CF following a 2–2 draw on aggregate.^[15] FA Premier League champions Chelsea were believed to be interested in signing Torres during the summer of 2005, but Atlético president Enrique Cerezo said that they had "no chance" of signing him.^[16] Cerezo later said in January 2006 that the club was willing to listen to offers for Torres, and Torres claimed Newcastle United of the FA Premier League had made a bid to sign him in March.^[17][18]

He stated after the 2006 FIFA World Cup that he had turned down an offer to join Chelsea at the end of the 2005–06 season.^[19] Torres scored 14 league goals in the 2006–07 season.^[13] The English media reported that he was the main transfer target of Premier League Liverpool,^[20] but Cerezo stated "We've received no offer from Liverpool or any other club or player".^[21] However, a few days later, new reports suggested Atlético had agreed a deal with Liverpool for Torres; the fee was rumored to be £25 million with Luis García moving to Atlético in a separate transfer deal.^[22] On 30 June, Atlético announced a deal to sign Diego Forlán from Villarreal, in what was seen as a move to replace Torres before his departure became official.^[23] On 2 July, it was reported that Torres had cut short a vacation to fly back to Madrid to finalise the move to Liverpool.^[24] The following day, Torres passed a medical at Liverpool's Melwood training ground.^[25] He held a press conference in Madrid on 4 July to bid farewell to the Atlético fans, before completing his move to Liverpool on a six-year contract.^[25] The transfer fee was the highest in Liverpool's history.^[23] In March 2008, manager Rafael Benítez stated in an interview with The Times that Torres was acquired for around £20 million, although this figure takes into account García's move to Atlético.^[26]

Liverpool[link]

2007–08 season[link]

Torres made his competitive debut for Liverpool against Aston Villa in a 2–1 win on 11 August 2007.^[27] He made his first appearance in the UEFA Champions League four days later in a 1–0 victory over Toulouse, after coming on as a 79th minute substitute.^[28] His first Premier League goal came on his Anfield debut on 19 August, in the 16th minute in a 1–1 draw against Chelsea.^[29] His first hat-trick came in a 4–2 victory over Reading in the League Cup in September, with all of his goals coming in the second half.^[30] His first goals in the Champions League came on his third appearance in the competition as Liverpool beat Porto 4–1, as he scored twice.^[31]

Torres playing for Liverpool against Middlesbrough on 23 February 2008, against whom he scored a hat-trick

He was named Premier League Player of the Month for February,^[32] during which he scored four goals in four appearances, including a hat-trick against Middlesbrough on 23 February 2008.^[33] This hat-trick and another in a 4–0 victory over West Ham United on 5 March 2008 meant he became the first Liverpool player since Jack Balmer in November 1946 to score a hat-trick in successive home matches.^[34] Later in March, after he scored a 47th minute header against Reading at Anfield, becoming the first Liverpool player since Robbie Fowler in the 1995–96 season campaign to score 20 league goals in a season.^[35] In April, he scored another Champions League goal, this time against Arsenal in the quarter-final second leg, as Liverpool advanced to the semi-final.^[36] This goal took him onto 29 goals for the 2007–08 season in all competitions,^[33] eclipsing Michael Owen's personal record for goals in a season.^[37] On 11 April 2008, it was announced Torres had made a six man shortlist for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award,^[38] which was eventually won by Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United.^[39] The Spanish international was also nominated for the PFA Young Player of the Year Award, which was won by Cesc Fàbregas of Arsenal and was named in the PFA Team of the Year.^[39] In May, he finished second to Ronaldo for the FWA Footballer of the Year award.^[40]

On 4 May 2008, Torres scored a 57th minute winner against Manchester City, which equalled the consecutive Anfield league goal record of eight games set by Roger Hunt.^[41] After scoring his 24th league goal in the final game of the season, a 2–0 win against Tottenham Hotspur, he set a new record for the most prolific foreign goal scorer ever in a debut season in England, eclipsing Ruud van Nistelrooy's 23 goals.^[33][42] He ended the season in joint second place with Emmanuel Adebayor in the race for the Premier League golden boot.^[43] Torres was subject to media speculation that Chelsea were willing to pay £50 million to sign him but Torres responded by saying it would be "many years" before he left Liverpool.^[44][45] Liverpool co-owner Tom Hicks also negated the idea of a transfer, saying he would not allow Torres to leave the club at any price.^[46]

2008–09 season[link]

Torres celebreates scoring against Vålerenga Fotball on 5 August 2008

Torres made a promising start to the 2008–09 Premier League season, scoring the only goal in a 1–0 away win against Sunderland.^[47] He suffered what was later confirmed as a hamstring tear in a 0–0 draw against Aston Villa, which would keep him out for two to three weeks.^[48] Torres made his return in a 2–1 victory against Marseille in the Champions League and went on to score two goals in the Merseyside derby against Everton on 27 September to give Liverpool a 2–0 win.^[49][50] He followed this up with another two goals the following weekend against Manchester City in a 3–2 win away at the City of Manchester Stadium as Liverpool came back from a two goal deficit.^[51] The first of these was the thousandth Liverpool goal to be scored in the Premier League.^[52] Torres picked up a hamstring injury during a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier, meaning he was likely to miss three games for Liverpool.^[53] On 22 October, Liverpool played Torres' former club Atlético in the Champions League at the Vicente Calderón, but his injury meant he missed out on the game.^[54] The Atlético president, Enrique Cerezo, had given him a VIP invitation to watch the game, but he declined this to recover his rehabilitation from injury in Merseyside.^[55] He was named in the FIFPro World XI team for the 2007–08 season on 27 October.^[56]

Torres during Liverpool's 3–2 victory against Manchester City on 5 October 2008, in which he scored two goals

Torres made his return for Liverpool after coming on as a 72nd minute substitute in a 3–0 victory against West Bromwich Albion (West Brom).^[57] He said he would be interested in returning to former club Atlético eventually, saying "I don't know if I will retire there, but I would like to go back and finish some things that are left to do."^[58] He was ruled out of action for two to three weeks following Liverpool's 1–0 victory over Marseille in the Champions League in November, where he picked up a hamstring strain,^[59] which was later extended to at least four weeks by specialists.^[60] He was named on the shortlist for the FIFA World Player of the Year award in December,^[61] and eventually came in third place behind Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.^[62] Torres returned to action on 3 January 2009 as a substitute with a goal in the 2–0 win over Preston North End; his first in the FA Cup.^[63] He scored two late goals for Liverpool to secure a 2–0 victory over Chelsea on 1 February.^[64] Despite having spent a year and a half at the club, Torres was chosen as number 50 in The Times's list of "The 50 greatest Liverpool players", reinforcing the impact he had made at Liverpool in such a short period of time.^[65]

Torres faced his old rivals Real Madrid on 10 March in the Champions League last 16 and due to an ankle injury, he had a painkilling injection before the game to enable him to play.^[66] He scored the first goal of the game, which ended as a 4–0 victory, meaning Liverpool progressed to the quarter-finals 5–0 on aggregate.^[67] Four days later he lined up against Manchester United at Old Trafford and he scored the equaliser in a game that finished as a 4–1 victory.^[68] He was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the second season running in April 2009.^[69] Torres scored his 50th goal for Liverpool on 24 May against Tottenham Hotspur on the final day of the 2008–09 season, which was his 84th appearance.^[70]

2009–10 season[link]

Torres lines up before Liverpool's game against Wigan Athletic on 9 March 2010

Following the end of the season, he agreed a new contract with Liverpool,^[71] which he signed on 14 August.^[72] By signing this contract, Liverpool increased his wage to £110,000 a week and included the option of a one-year extension after its expiry in 2013.^[73] Torres scored two goals in a 3–2 win over West Ham United on 19 September 2009, a result that took Liverpool to third in the Premier League.^[74] A week later he scored his first hat-trick of the 2009–10 Premier League season in a 6–1 victory over Hull City at Anfield.^[75] He was named Premier League Player of the Month for September, after scoring five goals during the month and becoming the Premier League's top goalscorer.^[76] On 25 October, he scored the first goal in a 2–0 victory for Liverpool over Manchester United,^[77] after which Benítez praised Torres' performance, saying "We were waiting for that final pass. When it came we knew he would score."^[78] Torres was named in the FIFPro World XI for the second successive season in December.^[79] His stoppage-time winning goal against Aston Villa on 29 December 2009 made him the fastest Liverpool player ever to score 50 league goals.^[80] He was substituted on 65 minutes in a 1–1 draw with Birmingham City on 4 April 2010, which Benítez justified by saying Torres was "exhausted".^[81] Torres made his last appearance of the season scoring twice in a 4–1 victory over S.L. Benfica in the UEFA Cup on 8 April,^[82] and it was announced on 18 April that he would miss the rest of the season to undergo knee surgery.^[83] This meant that Torres finished the season with 22 goals in 32 games in all competitions, finishing as Liverpool's top scorer for the second time.^[82] His surname was the most popular name to feature on replica Premier League shirts sold across the world in the 2009–10 season.^[84]

2010–11 season[link]

Following Roy Hodgson's appointment as Liverpool manager he stated that Torres would not be sold by the club, saying "He is not for sale and we don't welcome any offers for him. We want to keep him."^[85] Hodgson dismissed reports Torres was set to leave Liverpool by saying "He has told us that he is looking forward to Monday, to getting back to work and looking forward to playing for Liverpool next season. That is what I know so other reports, I would suggest, are erroneous."^[86] Torres stated his commitment to Liverpool on 3 August, saying "My commitment and loyalty to the club and to the fans is the same as it was on my first day when I signed."^[87]

Torres in Liverpool away colours in a UEFA Europa League match against FC Utrecht on 30 September 2010

He made his first appearance of the 2010–11 season in the opening game, a 1–1 draw with Arsenal on 14 August, entering the game as a substitute in the 74th minute.^[88] He scored his first goal of the season with the winner in a 1–0 victory over West Brom on 29 August,^[89] which was his 50th goal in all competitions to be scored at Anfield.^[90] Torres scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory at home to Blackburn Rovers on 24 October, which was his first goal since August.^[91] He followed this up by scoring both goals in Liverpool's 2–0 win at home to Chelsea on 7 November.^[92] On 1 January 2011, Torres scored the equaliser in a 2–1 win at home to Bolton Wanderers.^[93] He scored his final goals for Liverpool in a 3–0 win away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on 22 January.^[94]

Chelsea[link]

On 27 January, Torres was the subject of a £40 million bid from Chelsea, which was rejected by Liverpool.^[95] He subsequently handed in an official transfer request to Liverpool the next day, which was rejected.^[96] Torres completed his move to Chelsea on a five-and-a-half year contract on 31 January for an undisclosed fee reported to be £50 million, which set a new record for a British transfer and made him the sixth most expensive footballer in history.^[97] He made his Chelsea debut on 6 February in a 1–0 home defeat to former club Liverpool.^[98] On 23 April, Torres scored his first goal for Chelsea against West Ham United in a 3–0 victory, which ended a run of 903 minutes of football without a goal.^[99]

2011–12 season[link]

Torres playing for Chelsea in 2012

Torres got the 2011–12 season underway in Chelsea's 0–0 draw away against Stoke City, in which his "link-up play was sharp, plus he was willing to make intelligent runs into space to receive the ball".^[100] He scored his second goal at Chelsea, and his first of the season, on 18 September, during an away game against Manchester United, which was the side's only goal in a 3–1 defeat.^[101] He scored his second goal of the season against Swansea City in a 4–1 victory.^[102] However, 10 minutes after his goal, a two-footed challenge on Mark Gower resulted in his first red card in English football and a three-match domestic suspension.^[103][104] On 19 October, Torres scored two goals in a 5–0 victory against Genk in the Champions League, his first in Europe since the quarter-final of the 2008–09 Champions League with his old club Liverpool, against Chelsea.^[105] His next Chelsea goals came after scoring twice and also assisting two others against Championship side Leicester City in an FA Cup quarter-final on 18 March 2012, ending a goal drought that stretched 24 games.^[106] On 31 March 2012, Torres scored his first Premier League goal since 24 September 2011 against Aston Villa in a 4–2 away win.^[107]

Torres came on as a substitute for Didier Drogba on 24 April 2012 to score a last-minute goal against Barcelona in the Champions League semi-final, which gave Chelsea a 2–2 draw, and also eliminated Barcelona from the tournament, as Chelsea won 3–2 on aggregate.^[108] He scored the first hat-trick of his Chelsea career in a 6–1 win against Queens Park Rangers at Stamford Bridge on 29 April.^[109] Torres came on in the second half of the 2012 UEFA Champions League Final, directly after Bayern Munich's opening goal, and was heavily involved with Didier Drogba's equalizer, earning the corner kick from which the Ivorian scored to bring the game into extra time.^[110]

International career[link]

In February 2001, Torres won the Algarve Tournament with the Spain national under-16 team.^[111] The under-16s took part in the 2001 UEFA European Under-16 Football Championship in May, which they also won, with Torres scoring the only goal in the Final, as well as finishing as the tournament's leading scorer, and was also named the player of the tournament.^[11][13] In September 2001, Torres represented the under-17 team at the 2001 FIFA Under-17 World Championship, but the team failed to progress through the group stage.^[13] In July 2002, he won the 2002 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship with the under-19 team and was again the only goalscorer in the Final.^[11] Also, he finished as top scorer and was named player of the tournament.^[13]