AI Insight
The world is experiencing what is expected to become the strongest El Niño event on record, which began in June and is projected to last into 2027. El Niño is the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle in the tropical Pacific, which releases oceanic heat into the atmosphere, temporarily raising global temperatures and altering rainfall and extreme weather patterns worldwide. This "super El Niño" event will significantly impact weather conditions affecting billions of people across the globe.
Why it matters
This exceptionally strong El Niño event will reshape weather patterns globally, influencing precipitation, temperature extremes, and potentially affecting agriculture, water resources, and disaster preparedness for multiple years. Understanding the timing and intensity of this event is crucial for governments and communities to prepare for climate-related impacts.
Understand the Science
The world is currently experiencing what is expected to become the strongest El Niño on record – dubbed a “super El Niño” by many.
El Niño is the warm phase of a recurring climate pattern in the tropical Pacific that releases heat from the ocean into the atmosphere.
This temporarily raises global temperatures and reshapes rainfall and extreme weather around the world – impacting the lives of billions of people.
The current El Niño event began in June and is expected to last into 2027.
El Niño is part of a wider climate pattern called the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle.
The ENSO cycle also has a cool phase, known as La Niña, as well as a “neutral” phase. El Niño and La Niña events typically last between nine and 12 months, but can go on longer.
Below, Carbon Brief explains how the ENSO cycle works, its impacts on extreme weather and global temperatures and why this El Niño event is projected to be the most intense since records began.
The post Explainer: How the ‘super El Niño’ will reshape the world’s weather appeared first on Carbon Brief.
Source: Explainer: How the ‘super El Niño’ will reshape the world’s weather