El Niño is a climate phenomenon characterized by the periodic warming of sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. This warming of the ocean disrupts normal weather patterns and can have significant impacts on global weather and climate.


El Niño is part of a larger climate pattern known as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which includes both El Niño and its counterpart, La Niña. The ENSO cycle typically occurs every 2 to 7 years, with El Niño being the warm phase and La Niña the cool phase.



During El Niño events:


Warming of Pacific Ocean Waters: Warmer-than-average sea surface temperatures occur in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific.


Weakened Trade Winds: The typical east-to-west trade winds in the tropical Pacific weaken or even reverse direction.


Altered Weather Patterns: El Niño can influence weather patterns worldwide, leading to increased rainfall in some areas and droughts in others. Its impacts can be felt in regions as diverse as South America, North America, Africa, and Asia.


Some of the specific effects of El Niño include:


Heavy Rainfall and Flooding: Some regions experience increased rainfall, leading to flooding and landslides.


Droughts: Other areas may face drought conditions, negatively impacting agriculture, water supplies, and ecosystems.


Temperature Anomalies: El Niño can contribute to changes in temperature patterns, affecting both land and sea temperatures.


Impact on Fisheries: Warmer ocean temperatures can affect marine life, including fish populations, which can have economic implications for fisheries.


El Niño events are closely monitored by meteorologists and climate scientists because of their potential to influence weather patterns on a global scale. They can have significant socio-economic impacts, affecting agriculture, water resources, and even contributing to extreme weather events like hurricanes and wildfires in certain regions.